In the same way that Nike signed Michael Jordan in the 1980s to save his company, MLS signed David Beckham to do exactly the same thing. The question is whether Beckham will show the same dominance that Jordan showed during the ’90s and bring MLS to the level of brand recognition that a $250 million deal should buy.
David Beckham has just won the Spanish National Championship. He played for Real Madrid, the most dominant team in all of Spain. They have won the La Liga championship 30 times. La Liga is the highest rated football league in all of Europe. But winning titles is nothing new for Beckham, who has won more than 10 major championships with teams during his professional career.
But now Beckham is on the biggest stage of all. Real Madrid paid Beckham 41 million dollars over 5 years to play for his club. But his deal is mere junk compared to the $250 million deal David Beckham agreed to to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy. He has had a star-studded welcome since his arrival on the state side. But why shouldn’t he? He is a bonus superstar. He is a certified champion. It is the hope of MLS and the Los Angeles Galaxy that David Beckham and David Beckham continue their winning ways and create a dynastic cult following with the Los Angeles Galaxy.
If Beckham can bring several championships to the Los Angeles Galaxy, he will be a modern Pele. But if he doesn’t win multiple championships, he will have failed in the eyes of MLS. He is being welcomed into MLS to catapult it into the rush of NFL or NBA status. Tiger Woods did it in golf for the PGA Tour. So maybe Beckham can do it in MLS soccer.