David Beckham, known as much for his off-field high-profile endeavors and his marriage to Victoria “Posh Spice” Beckham as for his iconic exploits on the soccer pitch, said today that he was retiring from active play.
But although Beckham the athlete may be done, Beckham the marketing brand will live on.
Beckham is finishing his career as a member of the Paris Saint-Germain club, where he donated his season’s salary to local children’s charities. Though their altruistic activities didn’t exactly leave the Beckhams short on cash. Last year alone, the 38-year-old earned in excess of $37 million (US) in marketing deals from such brands as Adidas, H&M and Samsung. That puts him in the range of Kobe Bryant ($32 million), LeBron James ($40 million) and Roger Federer ($45 million), according to industry analysts.
Beckham made his mark as a world class player for Manchester United and then Real Madrid, but his signing with the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007 is credited by many analysts as moving Major League Soccer to a new level among soccer enthusiasts, marketers and the media.
Part of Beckham’s deal included an option to acquire part ownership in a MLS club, so it is likely that he will be returning to the US at some point soon.
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