David Beckham crafts a foot-ball from banana leaves with a local in Papua New Guinea as he begins global trek to play 7 games in 7 countries

David Beckham has started his epic journey across the world, a quest that will see him join people in remote communities to show the incredible appeal of football for a new BBC programme.

And he's clearly already loving it, as he shared a couple of photos online from the first of his seven different locations - Papau New Guinea - on Thursday.

The 40-year-old looked thrilled as he posed with a local in a small village in the southwestern Pacific nation, crouching down on the ground as he reveals he made his very own football.

Turning over a new leaf? David Beckham looked thrilled as he posed with a local in Papau New Guinea while crafting footballs out of banana leaves, for his new BBC documentary Love Of The Game

Along with the snap, the smiling star explained: 'I don't think I've ever made a football before a game before, this one is made from banana leaves. The hat was given to me the tribe #LoveOfTheGame.'

The star beamed with joy in the photo, his head covered in a colourful hat, a gift from the local tribe.

With a pile of carefully-crafted footballs laid on in front of him, it marked a new challenge for David ahead of the first of his seven global games.

Another picture shared showed him ready and raring to in front of the humble coach, painted with his name and number 7.

Humble motor: David, 40, posed alongside the bus that will take him and his team across the country - he is travelling to seven countries to play seven football games to shine a light on the global reach of football

The unassuming vehicle will transport David and his team across the country as they prepare to take on the first game.

He added, along with the sun-soaked snap: Team bus on the way to our first match in Papua New Guinea. 7 games in 7 continents...#LoveOfTheGame.'

His wife Victoria posted a photo of David, too, posing in a field with some locals, as she proudly added: 'David in Papua New Guinea on his 7 games in 7 continents trip x vb #LoveOfTheGame @Unicef.'

The programme, entitled Love Of The Game, will see the footballing legend travel the world, visiting some of the most challenging, extreme - and often dangerous - locations on the planet.

No matter how far out or how unlikely a place may appear, they all seem to have a grasp, understanding and love of the beautiful game, and David will be playing in seven games in seven different countries all over the world.

A good soul: Later in the day, Goodwill Ambassador David visited a UNICEF-supported hospital in Papua New Guinea to meet children receiving treatment for malnutrition, to see how the funds are changing lives

Proud wife! Victoria, David's wife, shared this photo later in the day, adding 'David in Papua New Guinea on his 7 games in 7 continents trip x vb #LoveOfTheGame @Unicef'

It's an ambitious journey for the father-of-four as he prepares to find out more about the passion that links the various locations, going from Papau New Guinea to the foothills of Nepal, the streets of Buenos Aires, the deserts of Djibouti to the elevated pitches of Miami.

But perhaps the most challenging part will be when he visits the frozen wastelands of Antarctica - he'll be the first person to ever play a football game there.

After his globe-trotting ways, which will see him meet people from all walks of life, David will end the journey at Old Trafford in Manchester, where his career began.

It's there that he'll play a final game with a collection of internationally renowned football stars, some of whom he played for and against during his successful career.

Doing his bit: The well-travelled star thought up the idea for this ambitious global challenge while on a flight with pals, and it will be filmed for a BBC documentary

Back to where it all began: The retired footballer will play one final game with old teammates and old foes at Old Trafford at the end of the documentary

Speaking of how the programme came about, David previously said: 'I remember sitting on a plane and discussing this idea with friends and never thinking it would become a reality.

'I'm genuinely excited now we can realise this ambitious idea. Whether as a player or out in the field for UNICEF and other charitable partners, I have seen the transformational effect that sport and in particular football has on people's lives.'

He added: 'This epic journey will allow me to show the positive side of the game I love and shine a light on the passion and selflessness of people that play this sport as a force for good.'

Living legend: The retired footballer has spent years travelling the world to visit lovers of the game, but he is taking it one step further with his latest quest

Source: Daily Mail