The England midfielder played for Milan for six months in the first half of the year. He scored two goals in 18 games and has won back his place on England's national team.

Originally, that loan was scheduled to end around the beginning of the MLS season. But with Beckham firmly entrenched in Milan's lineup, the Italian club sought to extend the loan. After a couple of weeks of negotiating that included some posturing in the media, the deal was extended. Beckham played the rest of the season with AC Milan, then returned to the Galaxy at the next transfer window in August.

Beckham initially met a hostile reception in MLS cities, including Los Angeles, with questions about his commitment to the Galaxy intensified by revelations in the book The Beckham Experiment, by Sports Illustrated writer Grant Wahl. But Beckham and Landon Donovan repaired the relationship and meshed well on the field, leading the Galaxy to first place in the West.

The Galaxy played Chivas USA on Sunday in the first leg of a two-leg, aggregate-goals series, tying 2-2. Beckham exchanged words with Chivas USA defender Yamith Cuesta after the game.

Beckham will remain with the Galaxy through a postseason tour and join Milan on Dec. 28. He'll return to the Galaxy in the summer transfer window, after the World Cup.

The English midfielder has insisted that he wants to play for a top European club to boost his chances of remaining on England's team for the World Cup.

"I'm committed to LA Galaxy and MLS in the long term and remain as passionate as ever about growing the game of soccer in America," Beckham said in a Galaxy release.

Beckham also told Yahoo! Sports' Martin Rogers that he would be interested in talking about a contract extension to remain with the Galaxy beyond his current deal, which runs through 2011.

Contributing: Beau Dure

Enlarge By Danny Moloshok, Reuters David Beckham, right, congratulates teammate Mike Magee after Magee scored during the first half against Chivas USA on Sunday.