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David Beckham celebrates ‘inspiring’ 20 years as a UNICEF ambᴀssador with throwback post looking back at his charity work

David Beckham celebrates ‘inspiring’ 20 years as a UNICEF ambᴀssador with throwback post looking back at his charity work

David Beckham celebrated 20 years as a UNICEF ambᴀssador in a special Instagram post on Monday, looking back at his charity work over the decades.

The emotional video saw the former footballer, 49, sitting down to watch his most significant memories across his time at the organisation.

Sharing a clip from his early days at UNICEF, he said: ‘This is the sort of work I want to do. This is what I want to be involved in.’

Looking back at the heart-warming moment, David said: ‘I look young.’

The ex-England captain has helped children across the world, hopping back and forth across eras.

In one clip, he was wearing a suit and tie and giving a speech to a UNICEF meeting, while another showed a tattoo reading, ‘violence marks forever’.

David Beckham, 49, celebrated 20 years as a UNICEF ambᴀssador in a special Instagram post on Monday looking back at his charity work over the decades

David Beckham, 49, celebrated 20 years as a UNICEF ambᴀssador in a special Instagram post on Monday looking back at his charity work over the decades 

Throughout the video clips, he says: 'When I joined UNICEF as a Goodwill Ambᴀssador in 2005, I could never have imagined the journey I would take with this incredible organisation.'

Throughout the video clips, he says: ‘When I joined UNICEF as a Goodwill Ambᴀssador in 2005, I could never have imagined the journey I would take with this incredible organisation.’

David's charity work included him pouring soup and reading books with children during his visits

David’s charity work included him pouring soup and reading books with children during his visits

He could also be seen on billboards and stepping out onto a football pitch to address fans.

In another throwback, a shirtless David was mobbed by children playing football on a sandy pitch as the ambᴀssador smiled. 

Various sH๏τs saw him shaking hands with people he met across his many trips and watching as children ran around and played sport.

In many, he was holding young children and chatting to schoolkids in impoverished areas, while in one he high-fived some young people he was visiting and pretended to shake his hand in pain.

David’s charity work also saw him pouring soup and reading books with children during his visits, as well as showing off his football skills and even allowing one young player to put the ball through his legs.

Throughout the video clips, he says: ‘When I joined UNICEF as a Goodwill Ambᴀssador in 2005, I could never have imagined the journey I would take with this incredible organisation.

‘When visiting countries all over the world, I’ve seen firsthand how UNICEF is making a real difference in children’s lives and in their communities.

‘I’ve listened to young people talk about the challenges they face and their dreams for the future. Children have the power of hope to be free from violence, to receive a good education, for girls to be treated as equals alongside boys.

A clip from his early days at UNICEF showed him wearing a hoodie with the charity's name on it

A clip from his early days at UNICEF showed him wearing a hoodie with the charity’s name on it

The ex-England captain can be seen helping children across the world, hopping back and forth across eras

The ex-England captain can be seen helping children across the world, hopping back and forth across eras

In one clip, he was wearing a suit and tie and giving a speech to a UNICEF meeting

In one clip, he was wearing a suit and tie and giving a speech to a UNICEF meeting

Another sH๏τ showed a close-up of a tattoo reading, 'violence marks forever'

Another sH๏τ showed a close-up of a tattoo reading, ‘violence marks forever’

He could also be seen on billboards doing charity work throughout the emotional video

He could also be seen on billboards doing charity work throughout the emotional video

‘Every child has the right to dream and with the right support and opportunities, children can be empowered to shape their own lives.

‘A lot has changed in the past 20 years, but one thing stays true: every child should have the power to dream. So now and 20 years from now, we must all do what we can to help children fulfill their dreams.’

David added the caption: ‘I can’t believe that this year I’m celebrating 20 years as Goodwill Ambᴀssador for Unicef and a decade since I created my 7 Fund. 

‘Since my first visits as a young footballer to UNICEF projects around the world I’ve been inspired to use my platform to support their mission to fight for the rights of every child.

‘I am incredibly proud of all we have achieved together, and it is a huge honour for me to receive a Crystal Award at the World Economic Forum. There is still so much more to do, let’s join together to help the world’s children reach their full potential.’

David is due to make two significant appearances at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week after receiving the award from the body.

In 2015, he launched 7: The David Beckham Unicef Fund, his own arm of the charity. 

Last week, David revealed he has convinced his fashion mogul wife Victoria, 50, to  create a documentary series looking back at her 30 year career, after the huge success of his own Netflix documentary in 2023.

Another clip saw him stepping out onto a football pitch to address fans

Another clip saw him stepping out onto a football pitch to address fans

In another throwback, a shirtless David was mobbed by children playing football on a sandy pitch as the ambᴀssador smiled

In another throwback, a shirtless David was mobbed by children playing football on a sandy pitch as the ambᴀssador smiled

Various sH๏τs saw him shaking hands with people he met across his many trips

Various sH๏τs saw him shaking hands with people he met across his many trips

Others showed David watching as children ran around and played sport

Others showed David watching as children ran around and played sport

In many, he was holding young children and chatting to schoolkids in impoverished areas

In many, he was holding young children and chatting to schoolkids in impoverished areas

He admitted ‘it wasn’t the easiest thing to get her to agree to’ but gushed that the Spice Girl is ‘unbelievably hard working and very clever’ and the world deserves to see that. 

Speaking on Today to hosts Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin, David opened up for the first time about the new Netflix show.

He said: ‘It wasn’t the easiest thing to get her to agree to, but in my opinion she was the star of mine.

‘So I just thought this is the opportunity, because she’s been working on our brand for the last 18 years, and she’s unbelievably hard working, and no one gets to see that.

‘So I convinced her to actually let people see what she does every day and what goes into her business. She’s a very clever and hard-working lady, so I want people to see that.’

Discussing their iconic dance moment to Islands In The Stream in his Emmy award winning documentary, David revealed that it was unplanned and his children were ’embarrᴀssed’.

He added: ‘This moment just happened we were in the tent all day and then all of a sudden I thought, you know, mum and dad should dance, the kids get embarrᴀssed.

‘And this just happened last second, and we just jumped up, and you could see all the kids were embarrᴀssed, but at that point the song meant something to us, and we just danced and it was just us at the end of the day.’

In one video he high-fived some young people he was visiting and pretended to shake his hand in pain

In one video he high-fived some young people he was visiting and pretended to shake his hand in pain

David was also spotted showing off his football skills and even allowing one young player to put the ball through his legs

David was also spotted showing off his football skills and even allowing one young player to put the ball through his legs

David previously detailed the surprising new project he is embarking on with wife Victoria Beckham after having huge success with his Netflix documentary last year

David previously detailed the surprising new project he is embarking on with wife Victoria Beckham after having huge success with his Netflix documentary last year 

The England football legend revealed he has convinced the fashion mogul, 50, to also create a documentary series looking back at her 30 year career

The England football legend revealed he has convinced the fashion mogul, 50, to also create a documentary series looking back at her 30 year career

Read More David Beckham details surprising new project with Victoria after the success of his Netflix series article image

David also revealed that Victoria is currently busy planning his 50th birthday bash, as he told viewers: ‘Victoria is organising it all, it’ll be in London.’

The couple married in 1999 and share four children together – Brooklyn, 25, Romeo, 21, Cruz, 19, and Harper, 13. 

David’s ‘Beckham’ doc – which was released in October 2023 – received five Emmy nominations and as well as a BAFTA nom.

The series gave an unprecedented look at David’s career journey and a glimpse at the start of their romance and marriage.

The four-part series won Best Documentary or Nonfiction Series at the 2024 Emmy ceremony, going up alongside Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV, STAX: Soulsville U.S.A. Telemarketers and The Jinx – Part Two.

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