David Beckham retires at 38 - Twitter pays tribute

David Beckham has retired from professional football (Getty Images)

A stunning career - for footballing and financial reasons - came to a close this afternoon as former England captain David Beckham announced his retirement from professional football. He will finish the current season with Paris Saint Germain. Here's how Twitter took the news:

@LewisWiltshire: Having watched David Beckham's football career from start to finish, congratulations to him on an brilliant career for club and country.

@BorisJohnson: Best wishes to David Beckham and his family on news of his retirement from football - great guy and exemplary ambassador for London2012

@Betfairpoker: BREAKING NEWS: David Beckham is retiring and forcing us all to confront the passage of time, human frailty and the inevitability of death.

@MiguelDelaney: Beckham set to concentrate on his real job of being a Professional David Beckham.

@VictoriaPeckham: *braces self for days of male tedium* RT standardnews BREAKING: David Beckham has retired from professional football

@BorisJohnson: Best wishes to David Beckham and his family on news of his retirement from football - great guy and exemplary ambassador for London2012

@rogbennett: First Fergie retires. Now Beckham. But Brad Friedel keeps chuggin' along. Still Old Reliable aged 73

@PatrickKingsley: In the latest of today's BBC seismic appointments, David Beckham is retiring to join the BBC as the editor of the World Tonight.

@Owen_G: Amid his family, teammates etc etc, Beckham takes time out to thank "Simon Fuller and his team".

@HenryWinter: That shot from the halfway line v Wimbledon, that free-kick v Greece, that double v Real Madrid...Beckham retires with many special memories

@RupertMyers: Footballing hero David Beckham retires. Few have his dedication to training. Here are some of his greatest goals http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCFm2Czsr44 …