But next year's Olympic football tournament could provide the opportunity to make a brief return to playing in England and bring full circle a career which started as a boy growing up in east London - where the Games will be held.
"I'm a Man United fan through and through and it would always be difficult for me to go back and play in the Premiership for any other team except for Manchester United,'' Beckham said.
"I'm a Leytonstone boy, the east end of London is where I grew up, and the Olympics would be something I'd love to be part of that.
"To represent my country in the part of London where I grew up would be pretty special.
"My grandad played on Hackney Marshes, my dad played on Hackney Marshes. So it would be special.''
Beckham nearly produced another full-circle moment in Tuesday night's match against the Victory at Etihad Stadium.
His audacious lob from inside his own half on 13 minutes which just missed was reminiscent of the 1996 goal for Manchester United against Wimbledon from similar range which launched him to stardom.
Beckham also won one of two penalties for his side in a match tied 2-2 after normal time.
He was bodychecked by Victory defender Petar Franjic to earn the second half spot-kick for Robbie Keane which levelled the game.
The Victory were excellent in the first 45 minutes and led 2-0 after 37 minutes with goals to Carlos Hernandez and Isaka Cernak.
But after the Galaxy were gifted a dubious penalty for handball just before halftime which Keane converted to make it 2-1, the visitors lifted markedly in the second term.
The match eventually went to a penalty shootout, which the Galaxy won 4-3 as Victory duo Paulo Retre and Marco Rojas missed their spot-kicks.
The Victory were without their drawcard Harry Kewell, who was pulled out of the match by coach Mehmet Durakovic to rest him for an important A-League clash with Adelaide United on Saturday night.
- AAP
