Is David Beckham's Career Over?

With his announcement that he is a whole two months behind in recovery after surgery for his torn left Achilles tendon, David Beckham's motivation to come back has to be questioned.

With his chance at a fourth World Cup appearance gone with the injury and a contract expiring in the next year or two, there is little motivation for a star like him to come back to the sport as a player.

The real reason that Beckham went on loan to AC Milan was so he could stay fit to make the Fabio Capello's England squad for South Africa. With little to no chance of the 34-year old Beckham making a run at the 2014 World Cup team, the only reason to come back to the game is to win a title with LA Galaxy.

But that opportunity is most likely gone as well. Landon Donovan will be gone after the World Cup and Edson Buddle is in stellar form that will see him go to Europe if he continues his goal scoring streak.

Beckham was only a bench player on a premier European team and will not be the same after his injury.

No big club in Europe would take a risk with big teams needing enough money, as they have to spend on stars like Franck Ribery, Luis Fabiano, David Villa, possibly Fernando Torres and Carlos Tavez, and whoever emerges as a star in South Africa.

So what is Beckham's best option coming off of surgery going to the 2010-11 campaign? Put all his attention into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids for his home nation. England needs a World Cup and most likely will get it, but with the celebrity of Beckham putting even more effort into the bid, England is a sure bet for 2018.

After that, Beckham will still receive endorsement deals from major companies and his name will be associated with the game of soccer. He could go into coaching or help develop his three sons into soccer superstars. Who knows, in seven to ten years, Brooklyn Beckham (currently eleven) could continue the Beckham legacy and enter the big stage in 2018 at home and help England win a World Cup on home soil.