LONDON, England - England manager Fabio Capello confirmed on Monday that David Beckham is expected to miss the World Cup after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon.

The 34-year-old former England captain was hurt in AC Milan's 1-0 Serie A win over Chievo at the San Siro on Sunday night.

Capello said he had spoken to the midfielder and it was now likely he would miss the showpiece event in South Africa this summer.

"We have to wait for the results of the scan, but it looks like he is out of the World Cup," said Capello.

"I spoke with him after the game on Sunday night to offer my support.

"David is a great professional and has worked very hard to be ready for the World Cup, so missing it will be a big blow."

But Beckham, who was set to fly to Finland for treatment by a specialist on Monday, said he hoped to make a "swift and full recovery".

He explained: "I am on my way to Finland to see a specialist and have a scan on the injury. I am upset but want to thank everyone for their messages of support. I hope to make a swift and full recovery."

Beckham pulled up in pain during Milan's Serie A game without coming into contact with anyone else and limped distraught to the sidelines for treatment.

The multi-millionaire will be operated on at the sports injury clinic of Mehilaeinen hospital in Turku, Finland on Monday afternoon, orthopedic surgeon Sakari Orava told AFP.

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said that the player will be out for "probably five or six months", which would rule Beckham out of a World Cup that gets underway in South Africa on June 11.

"I saw him and he was suffering," Galliani added. "In the dressing room, I took him in my arms and told him that if he wanted, he will be with us next year."

Beckham, desperate to feature in Capello's England squad for South Africa and play in a fourth World Cup finals, twisted his left ankle during the final minutes of Sunday's match.

"This injury has been a heavy blow for him and for us. Unfortunately the party is ruined," said Milan coach Leonardo after the win which helped close the gap on league leaders Inter.

Beckham had admitted earlier Sunday he was far from certain to win a place in England's squad for the World Cup finals.

He was an unused substitute in England's recent friendly win over Egypt as Capello opted to look at Theo Walcott and Shaun Wright-Phillips on the right wing instead of the veteran for the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer.

He joined AC Milan on loan in January in an attempt to convince Capello he could still make an impact at the highest level, but he has been left on the bench several times during his spell at the San Siro.

An injury crisis at the club, however, meant he was handed a rare start on Sunday only to suffer the major injury.

Beckham is England's most-capped outfield player with 115 caps.

The injury could be the final twist in his football career but Beckham's former Manchester United team-mate Andy Cole said the free-kick specialist would not want to retire in such circumstances.

"He'll come back from the injury, I don't think he'll want to retire on this note," former England striker Cole told BBC Radio Five Live. "He'll work his socks off to try to get himself fit.

"It's devastating news for David, his heart was set on going to a fourth World Cup. He will be heartbroken...There's a lot of pain and it's a long way back."

The career of Beckham, who made his name at United, has never been far from the back - and indeed front - pages.

He became one of the most sought after celebrities for his exploits on and off the pitch, after his marriage to former Spice Girl Victoria.

In a dramatic international career, his sending off against Argentina in the quarter-finals was widely blamed for costing England their chance in the 1998 World Cup - while four years later he played in the team knocked out by 10-man Brazil.

The 2006 tournament ended with Beckham announcing tearfully he was resigning the captaincy - but he was recalled to the squad after enjoying an upturn in form.