The emotion shows as David Beckham walks off the field during his final professional match.
Made captain for the
night by Paris Saint Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti, he played his full
part in a 3-1 win for the new French champions over Brest.
But on 82 minutes, with
the realization that his glittering 847-game career was winding down,
the raw emotion of the moment got the better of the most iconic player
of his generation.
Given a standing ovation
by the near 45,000 strong capacity crowd in the Parc des Princes,
Beckham hugged teammates and opponents before being substituted by
Ezequiel Lavezzi.
Family and friends, including his pop star wife Victoria, were in the stands to watch him.
He had even donned a
special pair of commemorative boots for the occasion -- bearing the date
May 18 and the names of his children, Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper.
Beckham was going out on a high, although PSG have an away match at Lorient to complete a triumphant season.
It was his 10th league
championship title -- won with four clubs -- Manchester United, Real
Madrid, Los Angeles Galaxy and now PSG, the players lifting the trophy
after their final home match.
The former England
captain joined them for the run-in to the season and quickly won over
the fans as she showed that despite his 38 years he had lost none of his
trademark skills.
It was on display again
in his farewell appearance, with raking cross-field balls regularly
finding the target and he made the assist on PSG's second goal.
PSG made a flying start with star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic putting them ahead in the fifth minute.
Beckham's corner proved
the assist for Blaise Matuidi to score the second with Ibrahimovic
blasting the third before halftime with a thunderous free kick.
Charlison Benschop
pulled a late goal back for already relegated Brest, but it could not
spoil the celebrations -- which went on long after the final whistle as
the entire PSG squad, Beckham included, were paraded ahead of the trophy
celebration.
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