David Beckham played professional football.
David Beckham . He made 115 career appearances in total , appearing at three FIFA World Cup tournaments , in 1998 , 2002 and 2006 , and two UEFA European Championship tournaments , in 2000 and 2004 . The FIFA World Player of the Year was an association football award presented annually by the sport 's governing body , FIFA , since 1991 . Manchester United Football Club is a professional football club based in Old Trafford , Greater Manchester , England , that competes in the Premier League , the top flight of English football . The UEFA European Championship ( known informally as the Euros ) is the primary association football competition contested by the senior men 's national teams of the members of the Union of European Football Associations ( UEFA ) , determining the continental champion of Europe .