David Beckham worries his sons will feel pressured to match the success he has achieved in his career.

The 39-year-old retired soccer superstar believes Brooklyn, 15, Romeo, 11, and Cruz, nine - who all play soccer as part of Arsenal FC's academy - sometimes find it difficult to shake off their dad's sporting legacy when they step out onto the pitch.

He told The Daily Telegraph newspaper: ''They do feel the pressure a little bit. I wouldn't say it affects him but Brooklyn said it to me the other day, he stepped onto the pitch and the kids were saying, 'He's going to be great, he's going to be the best.'

''If he has a bad game, if he kicks a bad ball, he hears what other kids say. For the younger two they don't care, especially the youngest one. He thinks he is the best anyway because he's got two older brothers he is competing with.''

The father-of-four - who also has three-year-old daughter Harper with his wife Victoria - gave up professional soccer last year and although it was tough for him to accept his time in the game was up he has been enjoying seeing his family more.

Speaking of his retirement, David said: ''If someone had turned around and said, 'What are you looking forward to after retirement?' It was to take my kids to football, to every single training session. Watch them and be part of their lives.

''Not that I wasn't before but, with my commitments, there were certain games that I missed or certain occasions that I missed. I hated that.

He added: ''It is one of the reasons I retired - I'm a cab driver. I literally am in the car from seven in the morning until nine at night. It is what I was looking forward to after retirement.''