Beckham has generated a media maelstrom

Romeo, who recently celebrated his first birthday, needed two stitches to his forehead after losing his footing, the Sun newspaper said.

The famous baby and four-year-old brother Brooklyn, were with David's mother Sandra, the Sun said.

The Real Madrid midfielder and wife Victoria hurried to the hospital where Romeo was treated after the accident at the department store, El Cortes Ingles.

The newspaper quoted an unnamed source saying: "Sandra took Romeo with her on a trip to the store.

"Romeo has only just started to walk so he is quite unsteady on his feet.

"As they came to the bottom of an escalator, he lost his footing and fell over and cut his head.

"There was quite a lot of blood."

Two bodyguards who were with the star's mother when the accident happened drove the boy to hospital, the Sun quoted the friend as saying.

After receiving treatment and the two stitches to one side of his forehead Romeo was permitted to return home.

David Beckham is likely to start in midfield for his first Champions League match in the Santiago Bernabeu stadium against Marseilles.

After frenzied media attention, Beckham has had a good start in Spain scoring twice and being influential in Real Madrid's matches so far.