He’s perhaps better known for his achievements on the pitch, but former footballer David Beckham was making waves of a different kind on Monday.
The retired Manchester United and England midfielder was joined by wife Victoria as they relaxed aboard an enormous superyacht off the coast of Miami, a second home for the couple and their four children.
The impressive looking vessel, understood to be worth £16million, is a significant upgrade on the comparatively modest 100-foot, £5million yacht reportedly purchased by Beckham, 48, in 2022.
Larger and more imposing than its predecessor – thought to be a ’90 Argo, purchased from yacht manufacturer Riva – the new boat boasts three sprawling decks and masses of space to unwind.
The sprawling vessel is believed to be another Riva design, the 110 Dolce Vita, complete with a split level flybridge, an enormous owner’s suite and its very own saloon.
David and Victoria Beckham’s £5million yacht, thought to be a ’90 Argo from boat manufacturer Riva (left) has been replaced by an enormous £16million upgrade, believed to be the Riva 110 Dolce Vita (right)
It is unknown if the vessel is owned or chartered, however both have been personalised with the single word Seven – a reference to Beckham’s Manchester United and England squad number, and daughter Harper’s middle name – emblazoned across the hull.
Taking advantage of its extra space, Beckham and his fashion designer wife, 49, were seen sunbathing as spring temperatures across the Gulf Coast continued to soar.
The football legend was said to have ‘treated himself’ to his original £5million vessel in 2022 after being inspired by his maritime jaunts with close friends Sir Elton John and David Furnish – who often holiday at sea.
A source told The Sun at the time: ‘David had a look around some yachts in the summer, and decided to treat himself. He helped design the boat himself, and has been incredibly hands-on with everything.
‘It’s not an oligarch-style super-yacht, but it’s still pretty plush by anyone’s standards. He was inspired after holidaying with Elton and David on their boat – and loves life on the water.
‘There will be an area for the kids to snorkel, and the boat will be a brilliant base for the whole Beckham clan to have magical holidays abroad.’
Beckham recently admitted that he didn’t realise how ‘strong’ Victoria was until they exchanged vows in 1999.
Speaking on This Life of Mine with James Corden, David revealed that he ‘really fancied’ her at the time, even though he ‘didn’t know’ who she really was until their relationship progressed.
Larger and more imposing than its predecessor, the new boat boasts three sprawling decks and masses of space to unwind
Taking advantage of its extra space, Beckham and his fashion designer wife were seen sunbathing as spring temperatures across the Gulf Coast continued to soar on Monday
Both yachts have the single word Seven – a reference to Beckham’s Manchester United and England squad number, and daughter Harper’s middle name, emblazoned on their hull
The football legend was said to have ‘treated himself’ to his original £5million vessel in 2022
He said: ‘I really just fancied her. I did. I just fancied her.
‘I didn’t know what she was like as a person. I just actually fancied her like most people did at that time, and I didn’t know who I was marrying [or] who I was going to be with for the rest of my life.
‘I didn’t realise what a strong woman she was, and that is what really attracted me to her more than anything.’
While Beckham thinks Victoria – with whom he is a parent to children Brooklyn, 25, Romeo, 21, Cruz, 19, and 12-year-old Harper – is ‘beautiful’ and ‘sexy’, he is drawn to her caring side.
He added: ‘I like a strong woman, and I like the fact that she works hard. I like the fact that she’s a great mum.
‘I like the fact that she looks after me sometimes, most of the time, and you know, we’ve created this life with four amazing children, which are the most important things in our life, so that’s why I chose Victoria… the way that she kind of runs the family.’
The retired footballer also admitted he holds the Spice Girls’ 1996 single Say You’ll Be There in his heart because the music video first attracted him to Victoria.
He said: ‘It’s my favourite because it was the song that was on the TV when I was sat in my room with [former teammate] Gary Neville and it came on the telly and that was when I turned around to Gary and said, ‘I’m gonna marry that one in the short black dress.”’
Beckham was apparently inspired into the purchase by his maritime jaunts with close friends Sir Elton John and David Furnish – who often holiday at sea
‘David had a look around some yachts in the summer, and decided to treat himself,’ a source said at the time