How Will David Beckham's Injury Affect His Family?

David Beckham tore his left Achilles tendon in a game Sunday, and despite having surgery today or tomorrow, will probably miss the World Cup, which begins in June. His wife, Victoria, flew from LA today to be with him in Finland, where he's seeing a specialist. The injury likely ends Becks's international career with England, and it will be months before he can get back on the field either with AC Milan, where he's been on loan since last year, or with Major League Soccer's LA Galaxy, where he's the highest-paid player in the league. And what will it mean for his family?

Victoria and David began dating in 1997, and the next year he played in his first World Cup, scoring a goal in a game against Colombia. They married the following year and have been the premier couple in English soccer circles ever since, with Victoria referred to as the "Queen of the WAGs"—wives and girlfriends—of the glamorous team. Now that his participation in the tournament in South Africa is almost impossible, Victoria will likely not be among the England team's entourage. You can practically hear the paparazzi crying from here. David Beckham Keeps Knickers On With Angelina

This is just the latest in a string of bad luck for the English national team, which faces the Americans in the first round on June 12. In recent months, defender Ashley Cole broke his ankle and separated from his wife, pop star Cheryl Cole, after news of his multiple affairs and some racy text messages hit the news. And in January team captain John Terry lost his armband after news broke that he'd had an affair with teammate Wayne Bridge's girlfriend, underwear model Vanessa Perroncel. Bridge has said he won't play next to Terry, who's also married. How To End An Affair