With his celebrity wife flying in to be at his side, David Beckham was back on his feet and walking on crutches Tuesday after surgery to repair the torn Achilles' tendon that will sideline him for about six months.
The 34-year-old former England captain "feels fine and is happy" as he recuperates from Monday's operation at a private clinic in southwestern Finland, his surgeon told The Associated Press.
"He does not have much pain and has started walking today and gradually done it more and more," Dr. Sakari Orava said.
Beckham was injured in the closing minutes of AC Milan's 1-0 win over Chievo Verona on Sunday. He was on his second loan to the Italian club from Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy.
"I'm feeling positive and now concentrating on getting back to full fitness over the coming months," Beckham said in a statement Tuesday.
Orava said Beckham's left Achilles' tendon was totally torn, ruling out his hopes of playing in his fourth World Cup. The tournament starts June 11 in South Africa.
"It is hard to tell, but in general I can say that after an Achilles' tendon tear, a total rupture, people usually are back in sports within half-a-year," Orava said, adding Beckham would stay at the clinic until Wednesday.
AC Milan said Beckham would begin rehabilitation right away.
"The plan includes a complete recovery in six months, at the end of which he can play again," the club said in a statement, adding that Beckham shouldn't put weight on his injured foot for two weeks and can undergo physical therapy in a pool after six weeks.
Beckham's wife, Victoria Beckham, formerly known as "Posh Spice" of the Spice Girls, arrived by private jet on Tuesday afternoon at a snowy Turku airport. She was taken to the clinic in a Volkswagen van with tinted windows.
Wearing a short black dress, sunglasses and no coat, she was met by dozens of screaming fans and photographers in the parking hall of the shopping mall. A police woman and a security man escorted her out of the car, fending off the pushing crowd as she hurriedly made her way to the elevator.
AC Milan said it will continue to follow Beckham's progress for the rest of the season.
"Beckham is a Milan player until June 30, 2010, so all the eventual contractual obligations will continue to apply," Milan organizing director Umberto Gandini told The Associated Press.
"After June 30, he will become a Los Angeles Galaxy player again. From the contractual point of view, absolutely nothing changes. The fact that he was injured doesn't change affect his contract."
Milan physicians followed Beckham to Finland and will also coordinate the first steps of rehabilitation.
"Until June 30 his rehab will be arranged in accordance with Milan and the Los Angeles Galaxy," Gandini said, adding that Milan could send one of its physiotherapists to Los Angeles if Beckham opts to return to California.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown sent a get-well message to Beckham and praised his role as an ambassador for his sport, according to Brown's spokesman, Simon Lewis.
"He emphasized what a tremendous ambassador Mr. Beckham is for English soccer and wishes him well in his recovery, as I think the whole nation does," Lewis said.
The injury shattered Beckham's hopes of becoming the first English player to appear in four World Cups and put his future on the national team in doubt. He will miss most of the MLS season.
