Soccer's Biggest Want to Spend It Like Beckham

The biggest names in soccer are looking to score the same huge payday that David Beckham just landed.
Beckham at soccer practice
In the wake of Beckham's record $250 million deal, a well-placed source tells TMZ that several "huge" foreign soccer players have made overtures to U.S. teams looking for the same deal. The curious soccer stars, include some of the biggest David Beckham: click to launchnames in international sport over the past decade. Their names and faces would still have cachet for Major League Soccer, even if their soccer skills are waning.

Still, they shouldn't expect $50 million a year -- or anything near it. One prominent sports marketing consultant who has worked with several MLS teams says that if the European and South American stars think they'll cash in, "they're sadly mistaken. David Beckham is an English-speaking brand that no other player can match."

Several relatively high-profile foreign stars have made the move to MLS in the past, including Lothar Matthaus, Youri Djorkaeff, and Luis Hernandez. But have you heard of any of them? Didn't think so.



Reader Comments

(Page 2 of 3) Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

16. I agree to posting # 7.
Whoever is the business advisor of the Becks has been really dealing into research & development of the Brand.

Since Beckam media hype is slowly dying in Europe over David's failing soccer career they are looking at other horizons..the good ''ol U.S.A who has the most hardworking paparazzi, and L.A is the place to be -for more exposure,brand recognition and reviving U.S soccer status is not such a bad idea after all..!!!

For sure Posh will be tempted into stuff even if she's happy doing what's she's doing!> more plastic surgery, and b4 I forget; beware of the TOm and his alien entourage!

Posted at 3:39PM on Jan 12th 2007 by Miss Karma

17. I think TMZ needs to do more research before writing some article. I dont know how much football(soccer) knowledge he has, but he sure needs to get to know the players more. Beckham is coming to LA just coz no other team in European league will take him anymore. They dont wanna lose, unlike here. He didn't even get to play for Real Madrid when he was in the club.

Sorry Beckham fans.

Posted at 3:51PM on Jan 12th 2007 by RJ

18. Yuck! Yuck! Yuck! To both him and his wife!

Posted at 5:52AM on Jan 13th 2007 by Lea

19. hmmm. let me think on this one..If i was a marketable soccer player and someone offers me 250 million almost 1 million a week LMFAO!!! Would i take it ..HELL YES! This man is looking at a hefty retirement. Posh is one lucky girl:):):)in many way!

Posted at 4:16PM on Jan 12th 2007 by Linda

20. Yummy!!!!!!!!!

But let's get real here. 80% of the money will come from endorsements and NOT his salary.

I just can't wait to see him on the pitch in person. I promise to to drool until after the match is over.

Posted at 4:23PM on Jan 12th 2007 by liz

21. Not that this matters….but saw on ESPN today the guy who was the “Broker” for the Beckham deal is the same guy who created “American Idol”, Simon Fuller.

Please stop “cramming” idols down our throats, will ya!

Posted at 4:22PM on Jan 12th 2007 by UTM

22. RJ ..that is only because spainards don't let anyone but spainards play! CR. ring a bell?

Posted at 4:55PM on Jan 12th 2007 by linda

23. So many jealous kids on here lol. Becks is hot, both on and off the pitch! Soccer is the most popular sport worldwide...the world goes beyond the USA borders...stop thinking in such a narrow minded way. You can admire your padded, steroid inflated Mike Tyson type American football players...the rest of the world appreciate the beauty, challenge and excitement of international footbal (soccer). It will be a breath of fresh air to have Posh N Becks in our midst!.

Posted at 4:34PM on Jan 12th 2007 by Laura C.

24. Beck who?
futebol is a roots game. teach the kids like I have done for years and the game will grow. Fading egos are salt on the wound. Suckers!

Posted at 5:57PM on Jan 12th 2007 by VAL

25. the reason beckham is moving to US major league soccer (and no one in the world besides a few americans realize that there is major league soccer in the united states) is because he is no longer good enough to play in europe, where the sport is actually popular. europe attracts soccer players, it looks like the US major league attracts has-beens.

but this LA team obviously think they are going to get a lot of fans (maybe in asia?) by buying beckham for this absurd amount of money. what a marketing ploy, i completely agree with post 15. in the US the beckhams will get plenty of exposure... europeans are sick of them. please TMZ just get over this story, i want to hear about hollywood...

Posted at 6:20PM on Jan 12th 2007 by ohyes

26.
Thank God, we need more blondes in the states-- SO F'N HOT HE IS. DAAAAAMNNNNNNN!!!!..............

Posted at 4:48PM on Jan 14th 2007 by me

27. Personally, I hate Becks and his nasty wife, but he has a world wide following, and that is good for the US and that is good for US soccer. I hope it brings other players from all over the world. Stupid Americans don't seem to understand that the US is a multicultural society, and the Latino population loves soccer. More world class players in the US means US becomes a player on the world stage in soccer. I'm tired of the US being a 3rd rate power when it comes to football. Vive America!

Posted at 12:14AM on Jan 13th 2007 by Soccer is good

28. He'll score on a few free kicks but he can't run and he can't play defense. He would ideally be used as a late-game substitute, but LA will have to play him 90 minutes. He will be surprised to discover that MLS defenses aren't all that bad. I hope other teams don't follow suit. What has made MLS valuable is its ability to develop young American talent. If it goes for overpriced, over the hill European former stars it will go the way of the NASL fast.

Posted at 12:52AM on Jan 13th 2007 by Jim in Chicago

29. He doesn't totally suck yet, he's only 31. But back in his prime he wasn't worth $250m. But his celebrity has grown exponentially since he scored the goal from half. So between him still being able to play fairly well, being the world's most recognizable sports figure (of any sport), and having a celebrity wife he is absolutely 100% worth $250m to any organization. If you make ~$50 every time you sell a jersey you could pay the entire sum by selling 5 million jerseys compare 5 million to the number of Beckham fans in the world (or even just in Japan and China) and all of a sudden $250m doesn't seem like a such a big deal.

Smart people get rich by making good business decisions. Smart rich people want to get richer by making more good business decisions (i.e. bring Beckham to their org.). So next time you think Beck's isn't worth $250m just realize that the people who are paying him that money are the ones who earned it by being a lot smarter than you (otherwise you'd have the money and be smart enough to sign Beck's yourself).

Posted at 11:18AM on Jan 13th 2007 by Econ 101

30. MLS should buy atleast 6 soccer stars from allover the world in $250 million, Becks don't deserve that huge amount haven't they seen his performance in La Liga, he did nothing for his R.Madrid team. what are the expecting at L.A. Galaxy from this guy?

Posted at 10:47AM on Jan 13th 2007 by Nouman

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