David Beckham- England’s X-Factor in World Cup 2006

Even though he has left England for greener pastures playing for Spain's Real Madrid soccer club, David Beckham remains the world's most recognizable soccer player.

From the scores of endorsements from multinational corporations like Coca-Cola and IBM, to his marriage with former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, to his 'cameo appearance' in the 2004 international Bollywood crossover blockbuster Bend it like Beckham, David Beckham is no stranger to publicity.

Beckham's public profile began to rise at age of 20 as he began playing for the English Premier League's Manchester United. In his second year he established himself as a household name when he scored a goal against the now defunct Wimbledon F. C. from beyond the midfield line.

Due to his tremendous popularity and high profile, David Beckham has had a love and hate relationship with English soccer fans. During the 1998 World Cup, he was blamed for England's defeat to Argentina in the second round of competition and was ostracized by sports journalists as a result. Despite constantly being heckled by fans of opposing teams during play and journalists in the press, Beckham remained sportsmanlike in his conduct on and off the field, never lashing out or commenting on his abuse. All this changed during the Euro 2000 tournament when Beckham responded to personal insults directed towards his wife and son by giving his detractors the fingers. Since then, both fan and press vilification of Beckham has decreased.

Beckham's high profile marriage to fashion conscious ex-Spice Girl (Victoria) nee Adams has contributed greatly to Beckham's popularity outside the realm of soccer. The couple is frequently mentioned in fashion magazines like Vogue and Cosmopolitan as one of the world's fashion forward couples.

Though Beckham has not experienced much success since being sold to Real Madrid, Beckham rejoins his English compatriots for international play in the 2006 World Cup. In his third world cup appearance the international experience Beckham possess may prove to be the factor necessary to push England deep into the tournament.