23. David Beckham to US

Beckham bows out with Liga title

David Beckham has capped his Real Madrid career with a league title. Beckham, 32, has been in Madrid for four seasons, but Sunday's 3-1 win over Mallorca sealed a first major Spanish honour for the US-bound midfielder.

Real came back from behind with two goals from Jose Reyes, who is on loan from Arsenal, and Mahamadou Diarra.

It is the club's first La Liga title in four years and they edged out Barcelona, who beat Gimnastic 5-1, because of their head-to-head record.

Beckham, who is set to join the LA Galaxy, was not on the pitch at the final whistle having been replaced by Reyes, but he joined the raucous celebrations at the Bernabeu.

"I couldn't have dreamt it any better," said Beckham. "It's been about winning the title for the last six months - and we've deserved it tonight. It's been an incredible experience, but all I remember now is the great things. Winning this tonight now puts to bed everything else."

The England star was joined by his three sons on the pitch and was given an emotional send off.

But for much of the night it looked as if Barcelona would be the team and city celebrating come the final whistle.

Meanwhile, Real were struggling and there was a growing edge of anxiety among a Bernabeu crowd that included actor Tom Cruise and tennis star Rafael Nadal.

Fabio Capello's team had an early scare when Juan Fernando Arango slammed a shot on to the Real woodwork in the opening minute and they fell behind when Fernando Varela broke the offside trap to score on 17 minutes.

And injury was added to insult when leading scorer Ruud van Nistelrooy hobbled off after 33 minutes with a hamstring injury.

After Beckham had curled an effort on to the Mallorca crossbar, Varela had a chance to put the visitors firmly in the driving seat, but he poked his effort wide and Real pounced on their lifeline.
Beckham, struggling with an ankle injury picked up on England duty, made way for Reyes who side-footed home with his first touch from Gonzalo Higuain's pull back on 68 minutes.

Diarra's header evaded goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya and defender Angelos Basinas before trickling over the line, before Reyes curled in a delightful third from the edge of the area.

While Real left it late with those two goals coming in the final 10 minutes, Barcelona were always in control at Gimnastic, with Messi and Gianluca Zambrotta adding second-half strikes - BBC.