By Mariel Turner
4:00am PDT, May 2, 2023
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Former soccer star and forever heartthrob David Beckham celebrates his 48th birthday on May 2, 2023! To mark the occasion, we're taking a look back at our favorite photos of the British babe in the early days of his fame…
In January 2001, David attended a launch for Police Eyewear in London. The famous footballer looked ultra-cool — at the time — in his stylish shades and pinstriped jacket. Also, just look at that smolder! Whew!
Keep reading for more great throwback pics of Becks…
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David Beckham was the quintessential '90s hottie at a table football championship back in April 1998. Swoon!
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David Beckham was all smiles with Manchester United teammate Gary Neville during their Premiership Trophy celebration parade in May 1996.
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Here's looking at you, Becks. David Beckham was the definition of cool at a Police sunglasses launch in London in February 2002.
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British heartthrobs David Beckham and Prince Harry were all smiles when they attended a reception on behalf of the England Football Association in honor of the FIFA World Cup in Johannesburg in June 2010. They sure clean up nicely!
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David Beckham looked quite dapper (and blonde!) while meeting Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in November 2002.
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David Beckham and Victoria Beckham held hands as they walked through London in 1997 two years before they got married.
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David Beckham was only 21 when this pic was snapped in December 1996. The soccer star looked as cute as can be while speaking at a Manchester United press conference.
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This photo truly encompasses the aughts! In February 2005, David Beckham posed alongside Jennifer Lopez and Beyonce during a Pepsi Commercial launch in Madrid.
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David Beckham channeled a viking while shooting a Pepsi campaign in February 2004. Medieval swag at its finest…
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A few weeks before their wedding, David Beckham and the future Victoria Beckham looked like they'd raided the "Matrix" wardrobe closet for their matching leather outfits, which they wore to a Versace party in June 1999. Nevertheless, Becks still looked as handsome as ever.
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David Beckham carried son Brooklyn Beckham on his shoulders after winning the FA Carling Premiership in May 2000. Sooo adorbs!
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David Beckham showed off his boyish good looks while accepting the Professional Footballers' Association young player of the year award in April 1997.
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David Beckham and Victoria Beckham looked glamorous at their July 2007 "Beckham Welcome to L.A. Party" at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. The bash celebrated David's move from a European football league to Major League Soccer's LA Galaxy team.
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David, the family man! David Beckham flashed a big grin with sons Brooklyn Beckham, Cruz Beckham and Romeo Beckham after a match in Madrid in May 2004.
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David Beckham with a mohawk? Yes, that happened! In May 2001, the London-born hunk was seen sporting his bold 'do at a press conference in London.
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David Beckham looked smokin' hot while signing copies of his book "Making It Real" at a Waterstones bookstore in London in September 2006.
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Remember when this phone was all the rage?! In February 2008, David Beckham looked dapper in a black suit while promoting the Motorola Razr mobile phone in Seoul, South Korea.
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It's Posh and Becks! David Beckham and Spice Girls singer Victoria Adams looked elated while announcing their engagement in London in January 1998.
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A very blonde David Beckham and fellow Manchester United midfielder Teddy Sheringham held their trophy up high after winning the Champions League final in Barcelona in May 1999.
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In January 2000, David Beckham was spotted out and about in Rio De Janeiro. His casual outfit — an oversized shirt with checkered shorts — practically screamed Y2K!
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David Beckham showed off his enviable abs after an LA Galaxy game in Carson, California, in November 2009.
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David Beckham might have been the happiest man on Earth when this photo was snapped outside of London's Portland Hospital in March 1999: He'd just welcomed his first child, son Brooklyn Beckham, with then-fiancée Victoria Adams.
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David Beckham was the picture of relaxation after a press conference at the Villa Madama in Malta in June 2000.
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David Beckham showed off his model good looks — and early aughts style — during a 2000 photoshoot.
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In May 1998, David Beckham looked incredibly on-trend (for the time, that is!) with his highlighted blonde locks while signing copies of the memoir "My Story" in London.
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David Beckham wore a do-rag and a black tuxedo shirt with the arms cut off as he posed with his pop star wife, Victoria Beckham, at the Prince's Trust Capital Party in London in July 2000.
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David Beckham was on the brink of football superstardom when this pic was snapped back in August 1996. He's pictured celebrating after scoring a goal in the 1996 FA Charity Shield game at Wembley Stadium in London.
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One of sports' biggest hair chameleons, David Beckham rocked a fauxhawk while posing in a tea garden on Japan's Awaji Island in May 2002.
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David Beckham showed off his smoldering stare in this photograph snapped at a "Home for Christmas" taping in 1998.
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It was a family affair at the Staples Center in Los Angeles where David Beckham enjoyed a Lakers game with adorable sons Brooklyn Beckham and Romeo Beckham in April 2008.
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Do we love their love? Yes, we do! In April 2004, a buzzed-down David Beckham and a very blonde Victoria Beckham shared a tender moment at a party in London.
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England's then-captain, David Beckham, was photographed shirtless on the field after a loss to Brazil in June 2002.
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David Beckham looked debonaire in a three-piece suit at the launch of his fragrance, Beckham Signature, at Macy's Herald Square in New York City in September 2008.
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David Beckham and Victoria Beckham rocked matching white ensembles and half-up, half-down hairstyles at the 2003 MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles. The couple that slays together stays together!
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David Beckham hit the sand at Rio De Janeiro's famed Copacabana beach wearing silky athletic shorts in January 2000.
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David Beckham celebrated his free-kick goal during the FA Barclaycard Premiership match at St. Mary's Stadium in Southampton, England, in January 2002.
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David Beckham and wife Victoria Beckham were all smiles as they left a date night at Claridge's restaurant in London's Mayfair district in April 2004.
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What a handsome lad! David Beckham is seen here during an advertising event for the British haircare brand Brylcreem in July 1997.
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David Beckham gave a hint of a smile while posing with his book "Beckham" during a launch event at a Borders bookstore in London in October 2000.
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Very few men can pull off a zigzag headband, but David Beckham is one of them! The footballer rocked the '90s hair accessory as he left a performance of "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" at the London Palladium in October 2002 with son Brooklyn Beckham.
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Cute ponytail, Becks! David Beckham sported the adorable hairstyle while playing soccer in Beijing in July 2003.
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Few things are better than David Beckham in a suit! The incredibly handsome soccer star looked dapper while walking the field before a Manchester United game in May 2002.
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David Beckham put our ponytails to shame when he rocked this very blonde, very high pony during a training session in Skopje, Macedonia, in September 2003.
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David Beckham was a fan of the early-2000s eyebrow-cuts trend, as evidenced by this throwback pic from March 2002.
