Manchester United legend David Beckham has posted an emotional tribute to fallen NBA icon Kobe Bryant.

Bryant, 41, perished in a helicopter crash in California on Sunday, along with seven other passengers, including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna.

Beckham became close with Los Angeles Lakers legend Bryant after he joined LA Galaxy in 2007.

He wrote on Instagram: "It's taken me hours to work out what to write and still my words won't ever be enough to describe how I am feeling after the tragic loss of Kobe.

"This was one special athlete, husband, father and friend. Having to write these words is hard enough but also knowing we have lost an amazing human being and his beautiful and talented daughter Gianna is heartbreaking.

"The commitment Kobe showed to his sport was inspiring, to go through the pain and to finish a game off like only he could inspired me to try to be better.

"Sometimes I would only go to games just to watch that clock go down to the last 2:00 minutes knowing that we were about to witness something special. Kobe always talked about Vanessa and his beautiful girls and how proud he was of them.

"Kobe's passion was his family and basketball. He was determined to inspire the next generation of boys and girls to embrace the sport that he loved. His legacy will live on.

"My family's love and prayers go out to Vanessa and the girls, to Kobe's basketball family, and of course to the families of those who were tragically lost with him yesterday…"