Football legend Sir David Beckham has sparked fresh speculation about a rift with his eldest son after sharing a heartfelt end-of-year tribute that made no mention of Brooklyn Beckham.
A Notable Omission in a Year of Celebration
On New Year's Eve, the 50-year-old former England captain posted a reflective carousel of images to his Instagram, celebrating a landmark 2025. The year saw him receive a knighthood from King Charles, celebrate his 50th birthday, and win the MLS championship as a club owner.
In the caption, David expressed his gratitude, writing: "I feel very lucky to have had the year I’ve had in 2025 full of moments that I will never forget... I’m so grateful to my incredible wife, my amazing children, my friends and team." He concluded by tagging his wife, Victoria Beckham, and adding: "I love you and our kids."
The series of photos featured David with Victoria and their three youngest children—Romeo, 22, Cruz, 20, and Harper, 14—as well as moments with his parents and friends. Conspicuously absent was any image of, or reference to, his 26-year-old firstborn, Brooklyn.
The Escalating Family Tensions
This public snub is the latest chapter in an ongoing saga of reported discord between Brooklyn, his wife Nicola Peltz, 30, and the rest of the Beckham family. The tensions are believed to have begun around the couple's 2022 wedding, where Nicola reportedly chose not to wear a dress designed by her mother-in-law, Victoria.
Relations deteriorated further this year. Brooklyn and Nicola did not attend David's star-studded 50th birthday party in May, an event that prompted David to publicly vow he would always "choose" his wife. The rift deepened during the summer when the Beckhams were not invited to the couple's vow renewal ceremony, which was officiated by Nicola's father, Nelson Peltz.
A source described this as "the final kick in the teeth" for David and Victoria, adding that seeing Nelson play a pivotal role was "heartbreaking for David especially."
A Digital Divide and a Separate Christmas
The feud has now moved decisively online. Earlier in December, Cruz Beckham revealed that Brooklyn had "blocked" his parents and brothers on social media. A source explained that Victoria had liked one of Brooklyn's Instagram posts shortly before the block, an act intended as a pre-Christmas olive branch that backfired spectacularly.
Brooklyn now follows no immediate family members on Instagram, though he does maintain connections with his grandparents, aunts, and his mother's sister. The physical separation was cemented over the festive period, with Brooklyn choosing to spend Christmas in the United States with Nicola and her family, rather than returning to the UK.
Is Reconciliation Possible?
Despite the very public fallout, David and Victoria are reportedly holding out hope for a resolution. A source claimed last month that "They’d love to have him back in the picture but feel as if there are things to hash out in their relationship."
However, another insider suggested the path to peace is not straightforward. They indicated that Brooklyn and Nicola were upset by what they perceived as a "public trashing" of Nicola, and that Brooklyn remains fiercely "loyal to his wife." This source argued that an "obvious first step" would be for David and Victoria to offer a sincere public apology, stating: "There is no realistic chance of a reconciliation without that happening first."
As 2026 begins, the Beckham family's private struggle continues to play out in the public eye, with David's poignant year-end post serving as the latest, silent testament to the unresolved conflict with his firstborn son.
