David Beckham has a well-known penchant for fine wine, but when it came to stripping down for his new Boss underwear campaign, he had to make a sacrifice.

The former footballer revealed that he cut out alcohol for 14 weeks in order to get in peak shape for the shoot, which debuted in January 2025.

Speaking at MIP London to Bela Bajaria, Chief Content Officer of Netflix, the 49-year-old said: ‘I actually told my team, I’m not going back into my underwear. And then we signed the Boss deal. 

‘And the Boss guys so nicely said, and I was under quite a bit of pressure at that point, so I agreed to it, and then I trained for 14 weeks. And someone that loves food and wine, I cut that out for 14 weeks and just went for it.’

The former England captain, whose Netflix documentary Beckham was released in 2023, also revealed that Michael Jordan’s The Last Dance was the inspiration behind the award-winning series.

He said: ‘I love everything about Michael Jordan. His career is inspirational. He’s an inspiration as a person, as a businessman, as a club owner. 

David Beckham has a well-known penchant for fine wine, but when it came to stripping down for his new Boss underwear campaign, he had to make a sacrifice

The former footballer revealed that he cut out alcohol for 14 weeks in order to get in peak shape for the shoot, which debuted in January 2025

‘But I remember when The Last Dance first came out, I was sat there with Victoria, and we were kind of saying, what should we watch. 

‘We had a little bit of an argument over that. And then all of a sudden, she was like, let’s watch it. And she was like, Okay, that was one of the best things I’ve ever, I’ve ever seen.

‘So to see that story again and hear it that way was an inspiration for me to think, okay, eventually I want to do something like that. I want to do something where I make a documentary, because we’ve been talking about it for a long time. 

‘At some point, I knew that I would have to make one. But you know what watching Michael’s was incredible.’

Despite the documentary’s widespread acclaim, Beckham admitted he didn’t enjoy making it and even considered pulling it before release.

‘It was difficult at times to discuss some of the stuff, because a lot of the footage and the archive stuff I’d never seen before,’ he said.

He also revealed that he was the only one who could convince his wife, Victoria, to agree to her own documentary, which is currently in development by Studio 99 and Dorothy Street Pictures.

‘It took a minute to try and get her to agree to it. You know, it wasn’t something that was easy. I think I’m the only person that could convince her, and I did eventually.’

He also revealed that he was the only one who could convince his wife, Victoria, to agree to her own documentary, which is currently in development by Studio 99 and Dorothy Street Pictures

As he approaches his 50th birthday, Beckham admitted he has little interest in a lavish party, though Victoria may have other plans. (Pictured: The couple announceing their engagement in January 1998) 

As he approaches his 50th birthday, Beckham admitted he has little interest in a lavish party, though Victoria may have other plans.

‘I mean, there’s a lot of talk at the moment within the household of what we’re going to do for my 50th but to be honest, it’s all about my friends and family just having a dinner together.

‘I love food. I love wine. I just want everyone to come together and enjoy themselves, whereas my wife trying to, I think she’s trying to organise things that I don’t want. Nothing I can do about it.’

When he isn’t working or training for a shoot, Beckham is enjoying time at home.

‘I’m actually rewatching Yellowstone because my wife hasn’t watched it. My favourite film is Father of the Bride.

‘It’s something that I always watch with Harper, and the moment where they’re all sat around the dining table and the little girl’s announcing that she’s met someone. I love that.’

On where he considers home, Beckham said: ‘Manchester was my home for a long time, and [I’m a] Manchester United fan. 

‘And Miami is kind of my new home, which I’m spending a lot of time there. But London is always my home.’

And as for domestic life?

‘I’m the best cook in our house, Victoria cooks toasties.’