David Beckham: The Most Overrated Player Ever??

Today, David Beckham signed for the Los Angeles Galaxy for $250 million over 5 years, making him the highest paid athlete in team sports ever. He is 31.

Now, I could make an emotional plea: "I hate David Beckham," ...but I will attempt to remain rational...Even if you're one of his biggest fans, I think we can all agree that he is slightly overrated. He has scored a number of clutch goals and set up countless others. He is possibly the best free-kick taker in the history of soccer. He can do with the ball what no one else can. When he's hot, he can be a dominating attacking player on the right. Yet, to be paid that much money and be held in such high regard (the reason the Galaxy made the offer is because they knew they could get ridiculous crowds to see him), one must certainly be the best player in the world. I think we can all agree that this is far from the case.

First, Beckham has rarely been the best player on his team...much less the world. During his early years at Manchester, he was among the best, and argueably the best on that team. He had to share that title with the likes of Giggs, Scholes, or Schmeichal. Later, he was far eclipsed by Van Nistelrooy. After leaving Manchester, because he was replaced by Solksjaer, he went to Real Madrid. All can agree that he made almost zero impact on the club. Real Madrid has won nothing since he arrived. He has never been the best player on that team either...being eclipsed by Zidane and now, once again, Van Nistelrooy.
As for his performances for England, a few things should be mentioned. Not only has this "great player" never led his team victory, but England, with Beckham, has never appeared beyond the semifinals in either the World or European Cup. As for his actual performances, in his first World Cup (98), he was criticized by his coach, didn't start the first two matches, scored one goal, and may have cost his team success by being ejected against Argentina for...well being an idiot. In Euro 2000, England did not advance and Beckham did not score. In 2002, his only goal came on a penalty kick. In Euro 2004, Beckham was a huge disapointment and missed a PK against France and then Portugal that caused their exit. And in 2006, Beckham was named captain, created a few chances through free kicks, and seemed to completely slow down England's attack for the entire cup. He was replaced in the final game against Portugal because of injury wherein someone fast (Lennon) actually started making some plays on the right side.
Beckham has never been named either European or World Footballer of the Year.

Does this sound like the Resume of a great player?
Well, you might say, even if he didn't win much (except for the triple Manchester wins in 1999) or star on any team, he could still have an enormous impact on the field. Well, first let me say that never in the history of sports has this been a criteria for deciding who is a good player... Who's better Joe Montana or Dan Marino?... In any case, I will also argue that Beckham has minimal impact on the field...

Beckham is what you could call an incomplete player. He doesn't defend. He doesn't dribble or pass well (although I will admit he is better than most...at best above average). He isn't fast. He isn't tall, good at headers, or strong. He rarely takes long distance shots. In fact he only does two things...take free-kicks and make crosses. Given, he probably does that better than anyone. Yet, there are plenty of very versatile players that can are nearly as good at it. Ronaldinho, Roberto Carlos, Zidane, and Del Piero come to mind. In many ways, Beckham is kind of a circus act. There are trick performers that can make a basketball shot from the midcourt line over 90% of the time. Yet, they are not in the NBA...they're on the globetrotters. Why? Because in a team sport like soccer you need to be a team player capable of doing many things. You must also be very athletic and skilled. These are all qualities that Beckham either lacks or is average in.

So, why is Beckham so highly rated? One, is that he creates opportunities...something essential to a successful soccer team. Yet, there are plenty of players that you will never hear about who create a wider range of chances and play as more complete players. The real reasons why Beckham is highly rated are the following:

1. According to females, he's attractive. (Ronaldinho will never make $50 million a year)
2. He's British. This makes him big in the ex-colonies and an infatuation for the British Press. Also, Americans for some reason follow British soccer relatively closely.
3. There's a famous movie with his name on it.
4. He's married to a quasi-celebrity.
5. People keep saying that he's really good.

When Jose Mourinho was asked if Chelsea would be trying to sign Beckham, he responded, 'I'm trying to organize a soccer team, not make a movie." I think that pretty much says it all. I don't know or care about the LA Galaxy, but I'm pretty sure their first priority here was to sell tickets, not win games. The contract is absurd. Beckham even in his prime (about 6 years ago) wasn't worth half that much. Did the Galaxy forget that Manchester United let him go 3 years ago because he was already washed up. So, he fit in well with other overpaid washed up superstars in Real Madrid. Now, Real Madrid is done with him (because he's really washed up and shouldn't even have been playing in the last World Cup) and he gets a huge contract??!

I think Beckham is worthy of being called the most overrated player ever of any sport. Honestly, even at his prime he was not amongst the top 15 players in the world. Now, he's a joke. If I were building a team, he would be the antithesis of what kind of player I would want. All style and no substance. Soccer should be ashamed of his success. I only hope that the publicity he will be getting will not further damage American's perception of a very entertaining sport.