David Beckham honored by wife Victoria Beckham, Tom Cruise at Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony
David Beckham is now immortalized on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The soccer legend received his Walk of Fame star in a ceremony on Friday, where he was honored by his wife Victoria Beckham and fellow Walk of Famer Tom Cruise.
In his remarks, Cruise highlighted Beckham's illustrious career on the soccer pitch with Manchester United, where he made his most iconic shot from the halfway line against Wimbledon in 1996.
"The ball was in the air for just 3 1/2 seconds," Cruise said. "But that moment has now lived for three decades in the minds of everyone who saw it and in the history of sport. And if you didn't know who he was then, you certainly did a few months later."
Cruise also spoke about Beckham's iconic curling free kick for England in the 1998 FIFA World Cup. The signature technique inspired the title and premise of the film, "Bend it Like Beckham."
The "Mission: Impossible" star said Beckham "inspired generations around the world to watch and play the game."
When Victoria Beckham took the stage, the "Spice Girl" singer joked that she thought she was getting her star on the Walk of Fame for "Spice World."
"As it turns out, earning a star takes a little more than surviving the late '90s box office," she said. "It takes vision, determination and an extraordinary amount of hard work. So to see David's name become part of that story today is incredibly special."
David Beckham's star on the Walk of Fame comes as the 2026 FIFA World Cup is underway. The soccer legend, who made three World Cup appearances over the course of his storied career, said receiving the honor feels "surreal."
"I've always been a dreamer. But I could never have imagined that an honor like this would come to a working class English soccer player like me," Beckham said before talking about his lifelong love of soccer, the United States and movies.
He said having Cruise speak at his Walk of Fame ceremony was a "full circle moment," as his first date with his wife was at the movies, where they watched "Jerry Maguire."
"I'm so grateful for your friendship," Beckham told Cruise. "You welcomed us to LA 20 years ago, and you have been a loyal friend and an inspiration to me ever since."
Bekcham ended his message by thanking his family, shouting out his children, who he said are "the reason I get out of bed in the morning."
"I'm gonna get emotional now," he said. "Kids, I hope you bring my grandchildren here one day and tell them about a boy who dreamed big. To make you all proud is my greatest achievement. I'm so grateful for you all. I love you, and thank you so much for this honor, LA. It means the world to me."
In attendance at Friday's ceremony were Beckham's daughter Harper and sons Romeo and Cruz. Noticeably absent was his eldest son Brooklyn, who earlier this year posted on social media about having a falling-out with his family.
Beckham's star-studded ceremony also included appearances from actress Eva Longoria -- a part owner of the Angel City and Necaxa football clubs -- and Longoria's husband José Bastón, as well as Irish football coach Robbie Keane and his wife Claudine Keane.
