With Beckham’s Career Over- it’s time to look at his impact on North American soccer.
Daniel Seco
With David Beckham’s soccer career officially over, today we take a look at his impact on North American Soccer. Following a career that saw him move from Manchester United, to Real Madrid, and then spend years with the Los Angeles Galaxy (complete with successful loans to AC Milan) before finishing in France with PSG , Beckham has leaves a mark on the American and international scenes.
While many fans initially viewed Beckham as nothing more than a glorified player on loan to North America, during his 98 career matches (18 goals) with the LA Galaxy, Becks was always a headline maker, and he brought international esteem along with quality to the Major League Soccer club. Prior to his arrival, very few people around the world, knew anything about the MLS.
By the time he played his final game, in the Galaxy’s 3-1 MLS Championship victory over the Houston Dynamo in December 2012, the MLS had earned a global footprint in the soccer community. Proof positive; 30,510 fans including stars like Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash from the Lakers attended Beckham’s final game with the Galaxy. The match was televised in 157 countries and the press boxes were packed with international reporters.
Beckham also opened the North American gateway for star players like Robbie Keane, Thierry Henry, Tim Cahill and now possibly Frank Lampard. Most recently, with Paris St. Germain, where he donated his 2013 salary to a local children’s charity, David Beckham has made himself and the leagues he has played in millions upon millions of dollars. The following David Beckham Info Graphic shows how the dollars have poured during “Goldenballs” career.
A look at the financial impact of David Beckham on North American soccer.