Best Of 2007: The David Beckham Story

Sometimes money just can't buy you love.

In David Beckham's case, the billions he made through commercials, endorsements, and football weren't enough to shield him from the media's wrath.

After a dismal showing from England at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, critics called for Beckham to be removed as captain.

Little did he know he would soon be removed from the squad altogether by new manager Steve McClaren.

And things were only going to get worse for the former Manchester United midfielder.

Stunning pundits across Europe, Beckham declared via a news conference in January 2007 that he would join the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer (MLS) after his contract with Real Madrid expired at the end of June.

Among those stunned by the decision was Real Madrid manager Fabio Capello.

Having already been exiled to the bench in favor of Jose Antonio Reyes, Beckham was soon informed by Capello that he wouldn't be taking part in Real's domestic and continental competitions due to his commitments to the Galaxy.

Of course, the struggles were nothing new to Beckham.

Let's not forget about his red-card debacle in the 1998 FIFA World Cup, and the embarrassingly misplaced spot-kick against Portugal in Euro 2004. And that's to say nothing of the bust-ups he had with Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.

Given that history, it's no surprise that Beckham refused to go down without a fight.

Becks beat the odds and fought for his place in the Real Madrid starting 11, ultimately helping his club clinch the La Liga title in the final game of the season.

As for his international career, Beckham was called upon yet again after his extended exile. Recalled to face Brazil in a friendly at the new Wembley stadium, he delivered the precise crosses that England desperately needed.

Beckham's arrival in the United States, meanwhile, was met with great fanfare. Jersey sales reached 250,000 before he was even introduced to the public. Pundits breathlessly debated whether Beckham could single-handedly turn "soccer" into a premier sport in America.

Unfortunately, they had to wait just a little bit longer to find out.

Plagued by a nagging ankle injury, Beckham was held out of action for a month. Frustrated fans took to voicing their displeasure—but the wait turned out to be worth it.

In front of a record TV audience, Beckham finally made his debut as a substitute against English powerhouse Chelsea Football Club. More attention was to follow at Giants Stadium against the New York Red Bulls, where 70,000 fans—the largest regular-season MLS crowd ever—turned out to watch Beckham set up two goals in a breathtaking performance.

Beckham claimed he wanted to make a difference in coming to America. This "difference" could just be the jolt Major League Soccer needs to become one of America’s mainstream sports.

The future is awful bright, and if success is to follow, the MLS and David Beckham can look back on 2007 as a year to remember.