Soccer’s Beckham to Give Galaxy, MLS a Lift with Recent Strong Play

Authored by Jay Baage on June 1, 2007 - 3:58pm.

In a rare stroke of luck for the Los Angeles Galaxy, barely two months before David Beckham is scheduled to begin play in the MLS, he is playing his best soccer since joining Real Madrid in 2003 - a paradoxical resurrection recently crowned by his return to the English national team. After being ridiculed as more of a pop star than a great soccer talent in his stint with Spanish team Real Madrid, the broad consensus is that he’s one of the great pillars of the team’s comeback to lead La Liga with only two games remaining.

Moreover, Beckham announced his decision to step down as captain of the England national team after last year's World Cup for the friendly against Brazil that will inaugurate the new Wembley Stadium in London, and for the Euro 2008 qualifier on June 6 in Estonia.

This means that the LA Galaxy, instead of getting a high-profile but has-been player like Pele was for the ASL in 1975, the Galaxy and MLS is getting a real world class player in top form, and the heart of the world famous Real Madrid team.

Beckham, who shocked the soccer world by agreeing to a five-year contract with the LA Galaxy worth some $250 million earlier this year, looks poised to prove the pessimists wrong. It could also mean a lot for the marketing efforts of soccer brands in this country.

Fact is, if Beckham can carry his play over to the MLS pitch, his star power will assist the league and, indeed, the soccer industry in gaining traction on rival professional leagues.

And oh, yes, one more bit of news on Beckham: there are rumors swirling in the UK that the global icon is to be knighted, though no official announcements have been made. Somewhere, MLS officials are salivating. The cards appear to be falling in to place.

Joakim Baage &
Scott Goldberg

Related Link:
Analysis: LA Galaxy Puts Its Hopes in Beckham, Maybe Zidane