Rio Ferdinand has revealed his pride after receiving an OBE for services to football and charity at a ceremony on Tuesday.
The Manchester United legend, 44, and his wife, Kate, visited Windsor Castle to receive his OBE from Prince William. Other members of Ferdinand's family, including his dad Julian, were also in attendance to see the ex-footballer collect the prestigious gong.
Ferdinand is best known for his glittering career on the pitch, but he's also achieved much off it since retiring in May 2015. His foundation has created opportunities and pathways for thousands of young people from deprived backgrounds since it was launched in 2012.
Ferdinand has also used his platform to highlight issues in society and football, such as racism, homophobia and mental health. These issues are explored in the former England international's new Amazon documentary 'Tipping Point' - which is released on Friday.
"This is obviously different to a football award and the trophies that I've won," Ferdinand told Sky Sports News. "But this means a lot. The inspiration behind this was my mum and dad, [they're] community driven people. To carry that work out for the last 10, 12 years with my foundation and being recognised for that means a lot to me."
Ferdinand played more than 700 club games for West Ham, Bournemouth, Leeds, Man Utd and QPR before during his playing days, and he won 81 senior caps for his country. The ex-defender was in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year six times.
Who do you think deserves an OBE? Let us know in the comments below!
The Man Utd icon won 14 trophies during his 12 seasons at Old Trafford - including six Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League. He captained both his club and country, and he represented England at the 1998, 2002 and 2006 World Cups.
Ferdinand's first wife Rebecca sadly died of breast cancer in May 2015, aged 34. He released a documentary about bereavement in March 2017 - entitled ' Rio Ferdinand : Being Mum and Dad' - and received a BAFTA for Single Documentary at the 2018 ceremony.
On the social issues discussed in his new documentary, Ferdinand added: "I think it's hugely important [to discuss this]. I think these different areas need to be focused on and highlighted for people to have improved lives and opportunities.
"That's what my foundation has been mainly about - education for deprived children, from all different backgrounds, and then getting an opportunity after the education piece.
"Opportunities of work, bringing corporate companies - companies that I work alongside in the corporate world - to really get down at street level with these kids and get them opportunities. Let them have a real chance at changing their lives. I've had a chance to do that through football and I really try to put that in place for other people coming through."
Ferdinand is also pushing for more diversity in the media. He said: "We see on the pitch, there's a huge representation of people from different backgrounds and that's not necessarily represented in different areas of the game - as well [as media].
"To put a spotlight on that and to put the right amount of pressure on people to make changes in that field is very important and I'm just one of many who are trying to do that."
