David Beckham to be knighted?

David Beckham will receive a knighthood in the 2007 New Year Honours, according to reports.

The 31-year-old English footballer will become a 'Sir' for his services to the sport and to the community, the Daily Express reports today.

Beckham was a pivotal figure in the successful London Olympics bid last year, as well as championing the plight of Kirsty Howard, an 11-year-old who suffers from a terminal heart defect.

The paper quotes a Westminster insider as saying: "Beckham has become an enduring icon of this generation. New Labour's spin doctors know this and are keen to reward him for his endeavors. Such an award would be seen as a popular move to the electorate."

The former England captain, awarded with an OBE in 2003, recently faced heartbreak after being dropped from the national squad by new coach Steve McClaren.