Beckham out 4-6 weeks with MCL sprain

David Beckham's debut season in Major League Soccer could already be over after playing in slightly over 300 minutes since joining the Los Angeles Galaxy in mid-July.

The English international underwent an MRI exam Thursday that confirmed he sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee, the team said in a statement.

The injury occurred in Wednesday night's SuperLiga final against Mexican First Division squad Pachuca FC. Half an hour into the game, Beckham got stuffed by defender Fernando Salazar on a 50-50 ball when he didn't run through it, even though the defender was charging hard. Beckham hit the ball with the inside of his right foot, spraining his right knee after the collision. Beckham left the game immediately while Salazar left five minutes later with strained right knee of his own.

Beckham is expected to be out about six weeks, and will immediately begin rehabilitation, according to the team. That means the earliest he would be back is mid-October with the Galaxy having only three MLS games remaining.

The injury, which comes after Beckham has been struggling with a nagging ankle injury he suffered while playing for England in EURO qualifiers early this summer, means he won't be joining the English national team for EURO qualifiers against Israel and Russia on Sept. 8 and Sept. 12. He had originally planned to fly to London on Sunday, after L.A.'s MLS fixture against Real Salt Lake on Saturday night, to join England for the upcoming games.

 "It's just gone from one thing to another thing," Beckham said. "Maybe it's time for me to just say, 'I need the rest,' and get it right and don't come back until it's right."