Former Manchester United and England midfielder David Beckham will receive the UEFA President's Award for his contribution to football.
The 43-year-old will be recognised by UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin during a ceremony in Monaco later this year due to his illustrious career and role in promoting the game in "every corner of the planet".
Beckham will join an exclusive list of players to have been given the award in the past, including the likes of Johan Cruyff, Sir Bobby Charlton, Franz Beckenbauer, Bobby Robson and Paolo Maldini.
"The President's Award recognises outstanding achievements, professional excellence and exemplary personal qualities," Ceferin said in a statement on UEFA's official website.
"I have chosen David Beckham as the recipient of this year's award because he has been a global ambassador for football, promoting the game and all its values in every corner of the planet. His tireless humanitarian efforts, which have helped the lives of many children around the world, should also be celebrated. Beckham is a true football icon of his generation."
Beckham added: "It is an honour for me to receive the UEFA President's Award. During my career I always gave 100% and tried to uphold the values of teamwork and fair play and I am proud to join the illustrious list of players who have previously won this award.
"Many of the unforgettable moments I had on the pitch came in the UEFA Champions League, such as that magic night in Barcelona in 1999 when we beat Bayern in such dramatic fashion."
Beckham also featured for Real Madrid, Los Angeles Galaxy, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain during a 20-year career which saw him play 762 games for club and country, including 115 for England.
The former right midfielder won 19 club trophies during that time, including the 1999 Champions League title and 10 league titles in four different countries.
Barney Corkhill
