Footballer David Beckham is well known for his meticulous male grooming.

But his latest image overhaul appears to have eschewed his usual high standards in favour of a less manicured version.

With his shaved head, and flourishing beard, Beckham's new look has prompted onlookers to ask whether he has secretly joined the Taliban.

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New look: David Beckham's new heavily-bearded look, which he unveiled in Los Angeles yesterday, has prompted onlookers to ask if he has joined the Taliban?

Beckham, 32, premièred his new rugged beard at Los Angeles Galaxy's game yesterday, when his American club triumphed with a 5-2 defeat over team Chivas USA.

But despite the rare victory, it was the England midfielder's strange new look which proved to be the biggest talking point.

David took to the field with his overgrown beard looking uncannily like one of the fearsome Afghanistan guerilla fighters.

He was cheered on on the field by celebrity friend Tom Cruise, 45, and his adopted children Connor, 13, Isabella, 15, and his mother Sandra was also in attendance.

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He shoots, he scores: Beckham's team chalked up a rare win, beating Chivas USA 5-2

And while speculation continues over wife Victoria's reported fading friendship with Cruise's wife Katie Holmes, it appears that Tom is even closer to David.

The pair are said to have gone out on the town in Los Angeles several times in recent months as well as going running together in the city's Fryman Canyon.

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Supporters club: Beckham had the support of celebrity friend, actor Tom Cruise, his adopted children Isabella, and Conor, and his mother Sandra Beckham

A source told Mail colummnist Katie Nicolls: "Tom hasn't quite given up on persuading David that Scientology is a life-changing and wonderful thing.

"But he tends to see David privately. He thinks David is more malleable than Victoria. She is less pliable, stronger and more opinionated."

However, clearly the opinionated Victoria is having no luck persuading David to drop the Taliban-like beard.

Just good friends: David and Tom's friendship is said to be close while wives Katie and Victoria are said to be disintegrating