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MADRID - David Beckham will turn 32 in May and may be nearing the twilight of his career.
But if the reported figures about the value of his deal with Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy are correct, he has yet to reach his peak as a top-earning
sportsman.
Beckham is paid about US$7.7 million ($11.35 million) a year by Real Madrid and makes about $30 million more from his sponsorship deals with leading names such as Adidas, Gillette, Motorola and Pepsi, although he shares 50 per cent of his image rights with the Spanish club.
The five-year deal with the LA Galaxy is likely to be worth US$250 million - and that is on top of his existing sponsorship deals.
The ground-breaking agreement will effectively make Beckham a stakeholder in Galaxy and Major League Soccer.
It will include a fixed salary, performance-related bonuses, a share of the additional merchandising he generates, and any new sponsorship deals.
Beckham will have a vested interest in ensuring soccer takes off in the United States and if it does the sky will be the limit.
The world's biggest earning sportsman is golfer Tiger Woods, who made about US$98 million last year.
If Beckham retains his existing sponsorship deals and lives up to expectations in the United States, his income could top US$100 million.
The move to Los Angeles could be even more lucrative for the Beckham family if it enables the player's, wife former Spice Girl Victoria "Posh Spice" Adams, to relaunch her singing career.
The couple, who are friends with film star Tom Cruise and his new wife Katie Holmes, are almost certain to become A-list Hollywood celebrities and further spinoffs are likely to follow.
Top earners 2005-06
1. Tiger Woods (golf) US$98 ($130) million
2. Michael Schumacher (motor racing) US$58 million
3. Muhammad Ali (boxing) US$55 million
4. Phil Mickelson (golf) US$47 million
5. Michael Jordan (basketball) US$32 million
6. Kobe Bryant (basketball) US$31 million
7. Shaquille O'Neal (basketball) US$30 million
8. Valentino Rossi (motorcycling) US$30 million
9. Tom Brady (American football) US$29 million
10. Alex Rodriguez (baseball) US$29 million
11. Carson Palmer (American football) US$28 million
12. David Beckham (soccer) US$27 million
- REUTERS