DAVID Beckham has undergone a secret operation to repair a broken wrist – picked up during an England game 22 years ago.

The football icon injured his arm during a friendly against South Africa in 2003 – and played on with it heavily strapped up.

However, a recent x-ray showed a screw – used to patch him up at the time – had embedded in his forearm after failing to dissolve properly.

He was taken to hospital after the game, during which he fell awkwardly in a challenge with South Africa’s Thabang Molefe.

Becks was substituted early in the second half after grabbing an assist for former Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate.

He was seen struggling after picking up the knock, which saw him replaced by Jermaine Jenas four minutes after the break.

Posting a heartwarming message to her husband on Instagram this morning, Victoria, 51, wrote “get well soon daddy”.

Goldenballs was pictured smiling as he posed with his arm in a blue sling after undergoing the surgery.

Another photo showed the former England captain, 50, with a sweet wristband which read: “get well soon”.

A source said: “David had been in pain for years but thought nothing of it.

“He just kept going until, in recent months, it became quite unbearable.

“A routine scan showed that the pin which was meant to have dissolved, hadn’t – so he was booked into finally resolve the issue all these years later.

“Victoria was at his bedside post op and all went well. He’s in great spirits.”

In a recent interview Becks admitted that his stellar footballing career had left him with crippling injuries, and years of “wear and tear”.

He recalled that, during his last game fort Real Madrid, he had three cortisone injections in his ankle – but without them he probably wouldn’t have been able to play at all.

He said: “Certain parts of my body were a real mess.”

His worst injury, though, was after a game stateside.

While playing for LA Galaxy, he experienced severe back pain and was later found to have a broken back.

He said: “It was a bad one.”

Brooklyn, son of David and Victoria has hit the headlines recently after a distancing from his family.

Rumours about a feud with the Beckham clan and Nicola Peltz, 30, have circulated since her £3million wedding to Brooklyn, 26, in Florida.

Since then, the alleged clash has intensified as Brooklyn snubbed all four parties that were thrown for his ex-footballer dad David to celebrate his birthday.

But Brooklyn appears to have hit out on social media as, despite snubbing his dad’s birthday, he shared a photo of Nicola’s dad and wished him a happy birthday. 

Hot sauce company owner Brooklyn shared a photo of himself, Nicola and her father Nelson. 

Nicola could be seen with her arms draped around Nelson’s shoulders, while Brooklyn stood in the background. 

He wrote: “Happy birthday Nelson x we love you,” followed by a heart emoji. 

Brooklyn has also been backed by his godfather Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish, after he posted a photo with wife Nicola Peltz on Monday. 

Writing on social media on Father’s Day, the former Manchester United star said: “My most important & favourite job in life is being a dad…

“I’m so proud of all of you and like daddy ( sorry boys ) tells you every single day I will always be here for you no matter what…

“Mummy thank you for doing the most important part and making me a father there is no greater gift in life than making me a dad…

“Happy Father’s Day. I love you kiddies more than you could imagine.”

He also tagged Victoria, his dad and four kids – Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper Seven.

The post was quickly inundated with messages of support, which included comments from Romeo and Cruz.

Romeo replied: “Love you always 🤍🤍🤍🤍”. And Cruz added: “You mean the world to us and inspire us every single day dad I love you.”

David’s mum Sandra also replied, writing: “You are one special dad ❤️ and that makes me soso proud 🥰 x”

Noticeably missing from the comments underneath was estranged son Brooklyn.

It’s been an emotional month for Becks as he became Sir David.

The achievement comes after his 26-year-old Brooklyn, who lives in LA with wife Nicola Peltz, 30, was revealed to have no desire to speak to his parents or siblings after only learning about his dad’s knighthood in the press, an insider told Page Six.

The source said: “Brooklyn told his family he wants no contact and he’s not responding to those that try to connect.”

However, a source close to Brooklyn denied this and said: “This seems to be another deliberate attempt to misrepresent the truth.

“It only serves to distract from this honour being bestowed on Brooklyn’s father.”

The Sun revealed this month that Brooklyn had splashed out £11million on an LA mansion with Nicola.

It means he has put down roots 5,540 miles from his London-based dad and mum – and shows no sign of returning home any time soon.

A source said: “Brooklyn’s wife is American, as are her family whom he adores, and he feels his life now is Stateside.

“As an influencer he can work from anywhere but Brooklyn believes he has more opportunities in LA. It will be a dagger to the heart for his parents.

“Until now, the couple have always been renting so there was hope his relocation wouldn’t be permanent.

“This house purchase quashes any last hopes.”

Both Nicola and Brooklyn’s careers are based in Los Angeles, and Brooklyn spent part of his childhood there while his father played for LA Galaxy.

The stunning five-bedroom, six-bathroom property boasts a state-of-the-art home cinema, gym and infinity pool.

Meanwhile, the newly knighted David had lunch at an East End pie and mash shop with his mum Sandra and sister Jo.

Sir David was also videoed harvesting greens and bulbs of garlic and onions in his Cotswolds garden earlier this week.

His giggling wife filmed the ex-footballer as he proudly displayed his home grown produce.

When it was announced that the former England star would be getting his knighthood, he posted: “Growing up in East London with parents and grandparents who were so patriotic and proud to be British I never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honour.

“To have played for and captained my country was the greatest privilege of my career and literally a boyhood dream come true.”