David Beckham, Mr. Goldenballs himself, as some of his fans dubbed him a long time ago, suffers from asthma, his spokesperson has confirmed for the media. However, David’s condition is only a mild one and will not interfere with his future performances. Furthermore, his case can be seen as an example for all people with asthma, as it shows to them that it does not have to hinder their athletic aspirations, the Guardian informs.

Although word of this never got out in the media before, the other day, Beckham was pictured on the field using an inhaler. The moment the photos got online, talk of his health reached a peak, with many saying that asthma might actually prevent him from attending the World Cup in South Africa. There is no reason to worry, though, his agent Simon Oliveira assures the media and the fans in a just-released press statement.

“David has suffered with this since he was a young boy but obviously it has had no effect on his performance. He has never sought to make it public but, if it does inspire any sufferer to think they can achieve great things, then so much the better. Some of the best athletes in the world suffer from asthma and there is no problem with his aerobic fitness,” Oliveira says of Beckham’s asthma.

“Beckham is due to return to AC Milan next month as he tries to make sure of a place in Fabio Capello’s squad for South Africa, where altitude is expected to be a factor, but Dr John Moore-Gillon, a spokesman for the British Lung Foundation, did not anticipate it being a problem for the former Manchester United player. ‘Plenty of elite athletes suffer from asthma without it affecting performance, particularly if it is well-controlled,’ he said. ‘The fact that Beckham’s had it from a young age and has achieved all that he has achieved suggests that he won’t have a problem’,” the aforementioned British publication also says of the issue.

As we also reported a while back, although he continues to enjoy plenty of coverage and still a high level of popularity, Beckham’s fame is not what it once used to be. Maxim magazine, for instance, considers that his move to LA Galaxy on a £125 million contract literally made him the biggest flop in the history of sports, with little to no hope of ever getting back into the saddle and to his former glory.