David Beckham's Fortune Surpasses Lionel Messi's in Latest Rich List

David Beckham's net worth has surpassed Lionel Messi's, according to the 2026 Sunday Times Rich List. The England legend's combined fortune with his wife Victoria reaches an extraordinary £1.185bn.

What happened?

David Beckham, the former England captain, has secured a spot in the 2026 Sunday Times Rich List as Britain's inaugural billionaire sportsperson. His net worth has surpassed that of Lionel Messi, who currently represents Beckham's Inter Miami outfit.

Why it matters for David Beckham

Beckham's commercial appeal has contributed to his extraordinary wealth. His worldwide fame, reinforced by marriage to former Spice Girls member Victoria, has established him as one of the globe's most commercially valuable sporting figures.

What comes next?

Beckham's Inter Miami franchise is currently assessed at an eye-watering $1.45bn (£1.07bn). He has secured profitable sponsorship agreements with companies including Adidas, Pepsi, and Hugo Boss. The former England captain has also received a knighthood last November.

Beckham's net worth has been built through football, business ventures, and commercial deals since bursting onto the scene more than three decades ago. He started building his fortune during an 11-year stint with Premier League giants Manchester United, where he commanded a peak wage of roughly £5million a year.

Beckham continued to rake in the cash during his time at Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain before retiring in 2013. His commercial appeal has only strengthened since stepping away from the pitch.

The Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, currently represents Beckham's Inter Miami outfit and is poised to meet England for the first occasion in his professional life in Wednesday night's World Cup semi-final. Per Forbes, Messi possesses an estimated fortune of £833m and commands an annual wage of £18.5m.

Beckham will be in attendance for England's World Cup semi-final clash against Argentina on Wednesday night. The demand for tickets to the last-four clash has soared, with resale prices climbing beyond £2,000 for a seat at the Atlanta Stadium.

Fortunately for Beckham, affording one is hardly likely to be a problem. His worldwide fame and commercial appeal have contributed to establishing him as one of the globe's most commercially valuable sporting figures.

category: player_focus