David and Victoria Beckham met at a soccer match in 1997 and wed two years late

David and Victoria Beckham. Photo: VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty

David Beckham and Victoria Beckham have a dreamy love story — and according to the soccer star, it began before they ever even crossed paths.

In 2008, David told Ellen DeGeneres he knew he wanted to marry Victoria after seeing the Spice Girls on TV. “I was in a hotel room with my best friend, who was my best man at my wedding,” he said. “I remember turning around — before I’d even met Victoria — and said, ‘I want to marry that one.’ “

The pair married in 1999 and now share four children: sons Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz, as well as daughter Harper.

While the pair will be the first to say their longtime union is the result of a lot of hard work and commitment, Victoria has said, “love at first sight does exist.”

“It will happen to you in the Manchester United players’ lounge,” she wrote to her 18-year-old self in Vogue. “Although you will get a little drunk, so exact details are hazy.”

From moving countries to attending their eldest son’s wedding, here’s what to know about David and Victoria Beckham’s relationship.

1997: David and Victoria Beckham meet at a soccer match

Dave Benett/Getty

Though the couple grew up within 15 minutes of each other in London, they didn’t actually meet until years later, when Victoria was Posh Spice of the Spice Girls and David was playing with Manchester United. David recounted the meeting on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. “She came to a football match — soccer match — and I said hi from across the room and that was it,” he recalled. “I thought I’d missed my chance, and then a week later she turned up at another football match.”

Their second meeting was more involved, as David shared with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show. “We talked for about an hour in the players’ lounge and then she actually got the train up that day, so she wrote her number down on her train ticket, which I still have,” he revealed.

Victoria said she was taken by David’s family-oriented nature. “While the other football players stand at the bar drinking with their mates, you will see David standing aside with his family. (He’s not even in the first team at this stage — you are the famous one.),” she wrote to her younger self in Vogue. “And he has such a cute smile. You, too, are close to your family, and you will think how similar he feels to you.”

1997: David and Victoria Beckham go on their first date

Victoria Beckham Instagram

While the pair haven’t shared details about their first date, in 2014, Victoria posted a picture of the dress that she wore— an orange sleeveless number with a belted waist.

January 1998: David and Victoria Beckham get engaged ​​

Dave Hogan/Getty

​​The couple kicked off the new year with a bang in 1998, announcing that they were engaged, but didn’t plan to wed until the summer of 1999.

1998: David and Victoria Beckham are expecting their first child

Later that year, the couple announced they were expecting their first child together.

March 4, 1999: David and Victoria Beckham become parents

Two became three on March 4, 1999, when Brooklyn Joseph was born. In her 2001 autobiography Learning to Fly, Victoria addressed rumors that her firstborn was named for the city where he was conceived.

“It was when we were in Marbella [Spain] that we came up with the name Brooklyn. We already knew he was a boy and so I knew he could end up a footballer, so it had to be a name that was a bit blokey,” the author wrote. “I had always liked the name Brooke and then we suddenly thought about Brooklyn. I’d always liked it as a place — it’s very multi-cultural, very grounded. And it was only afterwards that I realized how appropriate it was because it was in New York that I found out I was pregnant.”

July 1999: David and Victoria Beckham are married

Dave Hogan/Getty

The couple’s nuptials were held at Luttrellstown Castle outside Dublin. Their son Brooklyn served as the ring bearer and celebrity guests included some of Victoria’s fellow Spice Girls, David’s teammates, Elton John and George Michael.

The bride wore a strapless Vera Wang gown with a sculptural neckline and a sweeping 20-foot train, paired with an 18-karat gold tiara designed by Princess Diana’s jeweler. Victoria, David and Brooklyn later changed into color-coordinated eggplant purple outfits for the reception.

2002: David and Victoria Beckham are expecting another child

The Beckhams announced they were pregnant with their second child in 2002.

September 1, 2002: David and Victoria Beckham welcome their second baby

Three years after tying the knot, the Beckham household grew once more as they welcomed son Romeo James. David confirmed the news that Victoria had given birth via cesarean section at 9:40 a.m. on Sept. 1, 2002.

2003: David and Victoria Beckham move to Spain

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

The fashion designer and the soccer player moved to Spain in 2003 when David signed a four-year contract with Real Madrid. They would remain there for the next several years.

2004: David and Victoria Beckham announce they are expecting their third child

Two years after welcoming son Romeo, David and Victoria revealed they were expecting yet another child. The baby was reportedly due the following March .

February 20, 2005: David and Victoria Beckham welcome their third baby

The couple welcomed their third son, Cruz David, on Feb. 20, 2005, in Madrid. “We’ve got a baby boy. His name is Cruz,” David told reporters outside the hospital. “He is beautiful. He is in there with his brothers now and he is very happy.”

July 2007: David and Victoria Beckham move to Los Angeles

Sylvia Linares/FilmMagic

In 2007, David signed a five-year contract with the L.A. Galaxy, causing the family to move to California. “It will be especially nice for the children,” Victoria told PEOPLE ahead of their move. “To be able to be outdoors so much of the time will be wonderful.”

In the days after their move, the Beckhams made time for both work and family as they spoke to the press and went out to dinner with their kids. The couple moved into a $22 million mansion in Beverly Hills, California, and their housewarming party was hosted by then-married couple Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes.

August 2007: David and Victoria Beckham pose for a sexy photoshoot

The Beckhams opened up about their relationship and posed for a series of sexy photos in a W magazine profile.

They addressed overcoming obstacles in their marriage — namely, David’s rumored affair that dominated British tabloids three years prior.

“I’m not going to lie. It was a really rough time … David and I got through it together,” Victoria told W. “No one said marriage was going to be easy. Yes, there have been bumps along the road. But the fact is we’ve come out of everything we’ve been through stronger and happier. It’s even better now than when we were first married. After all these years, we can just come home and have a laugh together.”

April 2008: David Beckham talks about making Victoria Beckham a priority

In an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2008, the midfielder revealed that he and his wife make it a priority to carve out quality time with each other in their busy schedules. “We’ve got three beautiful boys, which is our priority, but I think … in a marriage, you make it work, and you have to make time for each other,” he said. “And we do that. So I think that’s important.”

September 2008: Victoria Beckham calls David Beckham her “muse”

James Devaney/WireImage

In a letter posted to her label’s website, the “Say You’ll Be There” singer revealed that her husband inspired her fashion label’s menswear line.

“The dVb mens collection has just launched, and who better than David to be my muse!” she wrote. “I am looking forward to the brand developing … I have many ideas; patience is something I’m trying to learn but haven’t got to grips with as yet!”

September 2009: David Beckham commemorates Victoria Beckham’s name in ink

Frazer Harrison/Getty

For the couple’s 10-year anniversary, David put his heart on his sleeve — literally.

“I had 10 roses ’round my arm, for the 10 years,” he told DeGeneres. He pointed out that a love like theirs goes beyond just gifts. “We always try and do things special, you know. It’s not always about buying gifts for each other, of course. We just make sure that we make time together or go for dinner together and do special things. That’s important to us.”

January 2011: David and Victoria Beckham announce they’re expecting a fourth child

In January 2011, the couple revealed to PEOPLE that they were expecting their fourth child. “David and Victoria Beckham are delighted to confirm they are expecting their fourth child in the summer,” their rep said, adding, “Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz are very excited about the arrival of their new brother or sister.”

July 10, 2011: David and Victoria Beckham’s daughter Harper Seven is born

The Beckhams welcomed their first baby girl, Harper Seven, on July 10, 2011. PEOPLE reported that ​​she weighed 7 lbs., 10 oz., and her big brothers were ready to greet her with open arms. “Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz are excited to welcome their new baby sister to the family,” the Beckhams’ spokesperson said.

In 2008, David told DeGeneres about his and Victoria’s desire to have a large brood.”We’ve always wanted a big family, which was weird because when we first got together, we never even discussed how many children we wanted, but it just, it’s worked out that we want a big family,” he said. “You know, we love kids, so it’s worked out perfect.”

November 2011: Victoria Beckham pays homage to David Beckham

David and Victoria Beckham. Frazer Harrison/Getty

Victoria got emotional while accepting her designer brand award at the 2011 British Fashion Awards. Still, she made time to acknowledge her husband through her tears. “Without David, I wouldn’t have had the courage to do what I am doing,” she said.

2013: David Beckham retires and moves back to London with Victoria Beckham

In 2013, David Beckham retired from soccer after leaving the L.A. Galaxy and playing a short stint with Paris Saint-Germain. A few months earlier, Victoria was spotted house hunting in London.

June 2015: Victoria Beckham denies rumors that she and David Beckham had marriage troubles

The songstress spoke to Grazia about new rumors of a split from David. “David and I have nothing to prove,” she told the outlet. “We love each other, look out for each other and are strong as both partners and parents.”

She also praised her partner’s philanthropic nature. “My husband constantly inspires me and guides me,” she shared. “He has done so much good work, I look up to him and have the utmost respect and admiration for all that he has achieved.”

November 2015: Victoria Beckham acknowledges David Beckham in her Glamour Woman of the Year speech

rune hellestad/Corbis via Getty

When Victoria received a Glamour Women of the Year award in 2015, she acknowledged her longtime partner’s role in her success. ​​”Running a business, my work with UNAIDS and most importantly, being a mum, wouldn’t be possible without David,” she said. “Not only is he the most incredible father, but he’s supportive and someone who loves and inspires me every single day.”

January 30, 2017: David Beckham reveals that he and Victoria Beckham renewed their wedding vows

Darren Gerrish/Darren Gerrish/WireImage

In an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, the charity ambassador revealed that he and his wife had tied the knot for a second time, albeit in a far more intimate ceremony than in 1999. “It was a lot more private, about six people there in our house,” he shared.

He also laid to rest any speculation that their long-term union was a business decision. “We know each other better than anybody,” he gushed. “People have talked about, ‘Do we stay together because it’s a brand?’ Of course not. We stay together because we love each other, because we have four amazing children … Do you go through tough times? Of course. That’s part of relationships. It’s part of marriages.”

June 2018: David and Victoria Beckham squash divorce rumors

Buzz about a possible split began to swirl in 2018, but the couple quickly put the rumors to rest. “There is no impending divorce!” their rep told PEOPLE. Victoria also posted a photo of herself and daughter Harper, writing that they loved and missed David.

The following month, Posh addressed the rumors herself, telling British Vogue: “People have been making things up about our relationship for 20 years, so David and I are pretty used to ignoring the nonsense and just carrying on as normal. But these things have a wider effect on the people around us, and that’s unfair.”

She also spoke about their unwavering bond, telling the publication that they were stronger as a unit than as individuals. “Would either of us be in the position that we are in now had we not met and been together all those years ago? It’s all about the family unit,” she explained. “We respect that family bond and that is key.”

October 2018: David Beckham opens up about his marriage to Victoria Beckham

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

The Bend It Like Beckham star revealed the secret to his marriage with The Sunday Project‘s Lisa Wilkinson in October 2018. “I think marriage is always about hard work,” he said. “To have been married for the amount of time that we have, you know it’s always hard work, everybody knows that, but you make it work, you make difficult situations, like traveling away, being away from each other, you make it work.”

He also had plenty of praise for his wife and her accomplishments. “We recently did a Vogue front cover, which was all about Victoria’s 10 years in fashion,” David said. “The amount she’s achieved in such a short space of time with four beautiful young children … but obviously her business world, you know, to be on the front cover of Vogue, was a huge thing.”

October 2019: Victoria Beckham calls David Beckham her “soulmate”

Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty

In October 2019, the clothing designer spoke about her husband on The View. “Obviously, he’s incredibly good-looking, but David is the most wonderful husband and fantastic father and a real inspiration to all of us,” she said. “He’s hardworking … I’m lucky to have him as my soulmate.”

January 2021: Victoria Beckham reveals she still gets dolled up for David Beckham

Darren Gerrish/Darren Gerrish/WireImage

Mirroring her 2017 letter to her 18-year-old self, Victoria wrote an open letter to her future self for Vogue. The former Spice Girl revealed one of the secrets to her decades-long marriage: a bit of mystery.

Reminding herself of the tips she practiced during the COVID-19 lockdown, she wrote, “You’ve said f— it, and put on a great dress and a smoky eye. You always liked to surprise people — especially David. Preserving that bit of mystique is always helpful after almost 22 years of marriage. (What anniversary are you celebrating now?).”

2021: David Beckham directs Victoria Beckham’s beauty campaign

Victoria and David Beckham. David Beckham Instagram

David took on a few new roles in 2021, starting as director of a Victoria Beckham Beauty campaign in May. “We are in Miami filming for Victoria Beckham Beauty,” Victoria said as she panned the camera toward David. “My director for the day who is going to be filming me.”

In August, David helped her with her makeup for another Victoria Beckham Beauty campaign. “So I found a local makeup artist,” she joked in a snap of the soccer star touching up his spouse’s lipstick. “Seems to be working out!”

April 9, 2022: David and Victoria Beckham’s son Brooklyn gets married

On April 9, 2022, the couple’s eldest son, Brooklyn, exchanged vows with his girlfriend of two years, Nicola Peltz. The proud parents walked hand-in-hand down the aisle. Posh Spice wore a liquid-like metallic piece from her own line and a sentimental repurposed diamond that David gave her for Brooklyn’s christening.

October 2, 2022: Victoria Beckham shares a family photo from Paris Fashion Week

Victoria Beckham/Instagram

Victoria presented her Spring/Summer 2023 line on Sept. 30, 2022, during Paris Fashion Week. The designer later posted on Instagram, thanking David and their four children for supporting her at the event. “I love you all so much x,” she captioned the family photo, which included Harper, Cruz, Romeo, Brooklyn and his wife, Peltz Beckham.

October 13, 2022: Victoria Beckham shares why she removed her tattoo of David Beckham’s initials

Prior to removal, Victoria had David’s initials tattooed on her wrist. The fashion designer decided to remove several of her older tattoos because they had faded and turned a “bluey” color.

“They just didn’t look so nice,” she told Hoda Kotb during an appearance on Today. “It doesn’t mean anything more than that.”

Victoria added: “I think that the media started to speculate, was I leaving my husband? No, I was just a bit sick of the tattoo. It’s as simple as that.”

October 24, 2022: Victoria Beckham says the matching leather look with David Beckham from the ’90s “haunts” her

It just so happens that the iconic ensemble was a major fashion faux pas.

“We were wearing Gucci [and] it was a Versace dinner, which is inappropriate in itself,” Victoria revealed on Watch What Happens Live.

She went on to add that the matching moment “haunts” her because pictures of it resurface so often.

“It does haunt me, but I love it,” the Spice Girls singer said. “We really considered those outfits, we really thought about it, and there was a naïveté to it that was just so sweet.”

December 22, 2022: Victoria Beckham says her wedding to David Beckham was “more intimate than it looked”

While talking with The Business of Fashion during its BoF VOICES 2022 event, Victoria reminisced about her wedding to David.

“I think the media glamorized the wedding much more than it actually was. Yes, it was in a magazine. Yes, we sat on thrones. [But] the wedding wasn’t as huge as everybody made out,” she said. “It was family and friends. It was much more intimate than it looked.”

June 26, 2023: David Beckham and Victoria Beckham attend the Jacquemus fashion show in France

Pierre Suu/WireImage

The couple sat front row (in a row boat) for the Jacquemus Le Chouchou fashion show at the Palace of Versailles. Victoria dazzled in a pale pink dress from her own clothing line, while David looked chic in a linen ensemble.

September 8, 2023: David Beckham gets new tattoo in honor of Victoria Beckham

Darren Gerrish/WireImage;Shutterstock

David paid tribute to Victoria by getting her Spice Girls moniker, “Posh,” tattooed on his left hand, specifically his middle finger. The soccer legend shared photos from the ink session on Instagram.

March 1, 2024: David Beckham supports Victoria Beckham at Paris Fashion Week

David sat in the front row for Victoria’s Autumn/Winter 2024 show at Paris Fashion Week. The designer, who was walking on crutches due to a foot injury, stopped to kiss her husband as she took her bow on the runway.

“So proud of you for many reasons but this season threw a lot at you and again you just did what you do best,” David wrote on Instagram following the show. “We love you @victoriabeckham.”

April 20, 2024: David Beckham throws Victoria Beckham a 50th birthday bash

David threw Victoria a 50th birthday party at Oswald’s, a members-only club in London. He invited all her close friends, including Eva Longoria, Salma Hayek-Pinault and the Spice Girls.

Following the big bash, Victoria thanked her husband on Instagram, writing, “I still can’t believe how special you made me feel on this evening, on my birthday, this entire week, and all of our magical years together! Thank you. I love you so much!”

July 3, 2024: Victoria Beckham and David Beckham wear their purple wedding outfits again in honor of their 25th wedding anniversary

Ahead of their 25th wedding anniversary on July 4, the couple shared a photo of them wearing the iconic purple wedding outfits they originally wore to their reception when they tied the knot in 1999.

In the picture, which was shared in a joint Instagram post, Victoria and David are sitting in matching thrones, smiling for the camera. “Look what we found… ,” said the caption.