David Beckham's prospects of crowning his stellar professional football career with one final World Cup appearance this year appeared to be in tatters Monday after he suffered a suspected Achilles tendon injury.
Beckham, whose global popularity -- particularly with American fans -- would have been a huge spectator draw for the 2010 Cup in South Africa, was forced to hobble from the pitch while playing a league game for his Italian team AC Milan.
Fabio Capello, the manager of the England team, said tests were under way to determine the seriousness of the injury, but Beckham's prospects looked grim.
"I am very sad for David that he has suffered this injury," he said in a statement. "We have to wait for the results of the scan, but it looks like he is out of the World Cup.
"David is a great professional and has worked very hard to be ready for the World Cup, so missing it will be a big blow," he added.
In a message posted his own Web site, Beckham -- photographed Monday walking with the aid of a crutch -- said he was on his way to Finland to see a specialist and was optmistic of a rapid return to the pitch.
"I am upset but want to thank everyone for their messages of support," he said. "I hope to make a swift and full recovery."
Beckham's inclusion in the line up for South Africa, albeit less crucial than younger stars such as Wayne Rooney, would have made him the country's first ever player to compete in four World Cups.
His injury occurred late on during Sunday's game against Serie A league opponents Chievo, as the apparent tendon rupture caused the midfielder to pull up while attempting to kick the ball, pain visible on his face.
The 34-year-old, who is on loan to Milan from U.S. team LA Galaxy, attempted to play on but quickly realized his injury was too serious, at which point he crumpled to his knees, face down on the pitch.
Depending on the severity, Achilles ruptures -- a tearing of the tissue connecting the heel to lower leg muscles -- can take up to 12 months to heal, with physiotherapists advising weeks of rest before resuming even light exercise.
While the selection of Beckham, a regular in the England side since 1996, for the World Cup was far from guaranteed, it will be a confidence blow to a team that has been rocked by recent scandals over players' private lives.
It will also cast a further dent Beckham's status as the most recognizable -- and most bankable -- football player on the planet, a position already beleaguered by disappointing performances and the rise of younger contemporaries.
But Beckham has battled against adversity in the past. In April 2002, he broke a metatarsal bone in his left foot, but recovered in time to join the England side that was eventually knocked out in the quarter finals.
The former Manchester United player's soccer success has also been mirrored by his life off the pitch. He and his wife, former Spice Girl Victoria, regularly rub shoulders with Hollywood A-listers, counting Tom Cruise among many celebrity friends.
While he commands enormous sums for his sporting skills -- his contract at LA Galaxy was said to be worth $600 million -- he also earns big cash for product endoresements and has put his name to his own brand of cosmetics.
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