Record dividend lands during the World Cup
David Beckham has not kicked a ball in a competitive match since 2013. That has not stopped him cashing in, and at a level most former players can only dream about. His brand management company paid out 44 million euros in dividends over the 2026 World Cup period, roughly 38 million pounds.
The set-up is simple on paper, ruthless in practice. Since retiring, Beckham has built a commercial empire around his image. McDonald’s, Verizon and Pepsi, through his Lay’s crisps deal, were among the contracts behind that figure, boosted by huge advertising exposure during the tournament.
Try it for $0.99.
A brand that gets heavier every year
The numbers keep climbing. His annual personal brand income jumped by 20% to 97 million euros, or 84 million pounds. Thirteen years after hanging up his boots, the former Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain No. 7 remains one of football’s highest earners, despite not playing another official match.
That commercial success adds to his stake in Inter Miami, where Lionel Messi has played since 2023. Beckham negotiated a symbolic option to buy into the club when he joined PSG in 2013, a move that has proved wildly profitable as MLS has boomed in recent years.
Sports business, his favourite playground
At 51, Beckham is the perfect example of a trend now common among football’s biggest names: turn a playing career into a long-term money machine, far beyond the pitch. The World Cup, with the world’s attention locked in for weeks, gave his commercial partners a massive lift, and by extension, him.
Discover the rest of the football news on our mathodds website and app!
in your pocket.
Real-time notifications & alerts
Leave a Reply