Beckham’s appeal in the United States was never only about what he did on the pitch.
That wider fame mattered. In a crowded American sports market, visibility counts, and Beckham brought a rare ability to make football part of a broader cultural conversation.
His move to LA Galaxy is still one of the defining moments in modern MLS history. Long before today’s wave of global attention, Beckham’s arrival appeared to change how the league was viewed abroad and how ambitious it could be at home.
He did not build the sport in America on his own, of course. But he became one of its most recognisable ambassadors, and Martinez’s description of his role in “elevating soccer’s profile in America” feels well judged. Beckham gave the league glamour, headlines and a sense that bigger things were possible.
That influence has evolved. Beckham is now a co-owner of Inter Miami CF, the club most closely associated with Lionel Messi’s arrival in the United States. In that sense, his American story has come full circle: first the marquee signing, now the figure helping shape the next era.
As the countdown to the World Cup intensifies, Beckham’s place in the build-up looks increasingly symbolic. The next thing to watch is whether that tournament delivers another leap for the game in America - and whether Beckham’s long shadow over that rise grows even further.