David Beckham reportedly on Great Britain’s Olympic team

Newspaper reports out of London say the Galaxy’s David Beckham has not only made the 35-man list for Great Britain’s Olympic soccer team but will be on the final 18-man roster to be announced next month.

The former captain of the English national team has made no secret of his desire to play for his country in the Olympics, one of the few accomplishments he’s missed in his career since Great Britain hasn’t competed in Olympic soccer since 1960. But with the country playing host to the Games in Beckham’s home town, making the team has become a priority and it is believed to have played a huge role in the 37-year-old’s decision to return to the Galaxy this season.

In Olympic soccer, teams are composed primarily of players aged 23 and younger but each country is allowed three “overage” players. Beckham has not played for the English national team for three years.

Beckham, who was Major League Soccer’s comeback player of the year last season when he finished second in the league with 15 assists and was selected by fans as an all-star, has played poorly for stretches this season although he leads the Galaxy with four assists and is tied for second in goals with two. One of his worst games came in a May 5 loss to the New York Red Bulls at Home Depot Center, a game British Coach Stuart Pearce flew in to scout.

Pearce was scheduled to submit his 35-player list to FIFA this weekend. And though the names have not been announced publicly some of the coach’s choices have leaked out. The 18-player Olympic roster will be set July 6.