Real Madrid star David Beckham has played down a report that he plans to retire from international football after the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

“I’m not looking to retire. I hope to keep going as long as my legs will take me,” said Beckham, who has 76 caps.

“I said, as other people have, that this World Cup could be my last but I hope it isn’t,” Beckham insisted.

“I think as a youngster everyone dreams of playing for and captaining England and I am lucky enough to have done both of those.

“I want to carry on as long as I can and when I started with England I set myself a target of winning 100 caps, or perhaps 106 or 108 like Sir Bobby Charlton or Bobby Moore.”

Beckham returned at the weekend from the rib injury sustained against Wales, playing a full game for Real Madrid as they beat Albacete 6-1 on Sunday.

“It’s nice to be back. I enjoyed the game and it was an important win,” added Beckham

“Fitness wise I was okay. I don’t know about 90 minutes but I will do my best to play for as long as possible.

“The Real doctors, physios and the manager don’t want me to play the whole game but that is down to Sven Goran Eriksson.

“As a Real Madrid player, to lead your country out at a place I play my football week in week out is a dream come true.

“The stadium is a great place to play football. I’ve spoken to a few people about it and they are all looking forward to playing at the Bernabeu.”

In a report in the Daily Star newspaper on Saturday, Beckham was quoted as saying the 2006 World Cup would be “probably as far as it will go for me as an England player”.