Beckham aims to play until age 40

By Mike Maguire, Special to SI.com, Goal.com

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AC Milan has a legacy of elderly superstars. Franco Baresi hung up his boots at 37, Alessandro Costacurta played until 41 and Paolo Maldini is still captaining the Rossoneri at 40. David Beckham reckons he can follow suit.

"I hope to be able to play until I'm 40," he said in British daily The Times. "I love the game. When I stop loving it, that's when I'll decide to stop."

But it's not only Becks himself who reckons he can kick on for another six years or so.

A few weeks ago, Milan's chief medic declared that the 33-year-old possessed the fitness and work ethic to play at the highest level until at least 2015.

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti also believes that his new midfielder -- who debuted against Roma this past weekend -- has what it takes to follow in Maldini's footsteps.

"I think he can definitely play until he's 40," said Ancelotti. "His career will last a long time yet."

Whether Beckham will spend those years at Milan remains to be seen, as he is scheduled to return to the Los Angeles Galaxy in March.