By Jonathan McEvoy and Charles Sale
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David Beckham will crown his glittering international career by spearheading Great Britain?s Olympic football challenge at the London Games.
Sportsmail can reveal that the Leytonstone-born England icon is included in the Great Britain squad Stuart Pearce will submit to FIFA, ending fevered speculation over his participation.
Although Pearce still has to whittle down today?s shortlist of 35 to a final 18-man squad by July 6, it is unimaginable given his status and profile that Beckham will be discarded at the last moment.
London dream: David Beckham has been chosen in Stuart Pearce's 35-man Olympic squad
Beckham, 37, has made no secret of his desire to represent his country in the city of his birth ? a contrast to the rest of the Home Nations and several club managers who objected to the notion of a Great Britain team.
However, Beckham?s inclusion will be derided by his critics, who believe his place owes more to celebrity status and the need to shift tickets than pure football reasons.
Pearce, though, has insisted on selecting his squad on his own terms, with both the British Olympic Association and Lord Coe?s organising committee, Locog, claiming they have brought no pressure to bear on behalf of the man who helped London win the Games.
Faithful servant: Beckham won his 115th and final England cap against Belarus in October 2010, while he continues to play for MLS champions LA Galaxy (below)
Beckham provided his own riposte to the detractors when he accompanied the Olympic flame from Greece to Britain, saying: ?Whenever I have been asked about shirt sales or filling stadiums it has felt disrespectful.
?Throughout my career I have been pretty successful. I?ve played for some pretty big teams, represented my country quite a few times and played for managers without sentiment. No, I don?t want to be picked for shirt sales or as a stadium filler. I want to be picked for what I can bring to the team.?
Pearce, who has yet to decide whether to make public his shortlist on Friday, is understood to see Beckham as bringing experience garnered at Manchester United and Real Madrid and in 115 appearances for England to help a squad aged under 23,bar the three over-age players.
Old head: Stuart Pearce gave Beckham the nod due to his vast experience
The FA may go back on their decision not to involve any of the Euro 2012 squad in Pearce?s selections by including Birmingham goalkeeper Jack Butland.
England Under 21 star Butland has long been part of Pearce?s planning for the Games but was a late call-up for the European Championship in Poland and Ukraine after West Brom?s Ben Foster opted not to be a back-up to Joe Hart and Norwich?s John Ruddy was injured in training.
But Butland will only be named in Pearce?s shortlist if his club have no objections following this FA U-turn.
On the plane: Jack Butland flew out with England to Krakow - and he could feature at the Olympics
It has been instigated in the belief that the 19-year-old keeper, who is unlikely to figure in the Euros, would greatly benefit from the Games experience.
Pearce is understood to have settled on his other 34 names.
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