You love him or hate him but you can’t ignore him: that is former England football captain David Beckham. He is not one of the most gifted of the footballers except his utility in dead ball situations (those swerving right footed free kicks). But he has that X-factor (with some help from the media), the charisma and the advertising brand value.

He evokes extreme polarization in opinion: from being just an ordinary footballer to an inspirational leader, from playboy to a model professional, from a fashion icon to a maverick. But like it or not, he has a fan following in every continent across Europe, Asia, Africa, Americas and Oceania.

Call it a gimmick or outpouring from the heart, when Beckham was unveiled by LA Galaxy in January 2007, he presented himself as a modern-day missionary who would take “soccer” to the American masses. He had even said at that time that he wanted to end his career in America.

“Some people laughed at me, but this move is not about the money,” he had insisted after signing a five-year deal with LA Galaxy estimated to be worth USD 10 million (128 pound sterling) per season.

“The main thing is to improve the standard and be part of history really. I think soccer can be a lot bigger in the US,” was his statesman-like assertions.

The deal was understood to comprise his basic salary reported to be USD 5.5 million (making him the most expensive MLS player), existing sponsorship contracts, merchandising shirt sales and a share of the club profits.

After two years, in January 2009, he shifted base in AC Milan on loan and was to return to LA on March 9. But now, after a successful stint at AC Milan he has extended his loan at San Siro till mid-July by partly funding a dual contract between AC Milan and LA Galaxy that allows him to play on in Italy until the end of the Serie-A season.

He will now return to Los Angeles in mid-July to play out the remainder of the Major League Soccer season, which finishes in November. After finishing the MLS season, Beckham is then expected to return to Milan from January 2010 to play in Serie-A ahead of the World Cup in South Africa.

He seems certain for a permanent transfer or another loan next season till his contract expires in 2011 or he may even exercise the break free clause allowing him to leave LA Galaxy after three seasons.

Beckham says his desire to play for a top club in order to cement his place in the England squad for the 2010 World Cup finals was the reason he took the decision to effectively fund the unique loan deal himself.

“The obvious (reason for staying at Milan) is giving me the chance to play in the 2010 World Cup. I have to do everything I can do to be involved in that. Everyone knows how passionate I am about playing for my country and, if it gives me a better chance of being involved in that squad, I’ll do anything possible to make that happen. It’s never about money, it’s always been about the football,” said the 33-year-old midfielder.

But the question is: why he did choose at the first instance to go to United States after parting ways with Real Madrid in 2007? He should have tried for a big club in Europe.

As many as 15 clubs were reported to have shown an interest in the midfielder, including Arsenal and Chelsea in the Premiership, Milanese rivals AC and Inter in Serie A — but it is to America that Beckham headed for.

Apparently to show he is committed as ever to develop “soccer” across the Atlantic, he made it known his desire to buy an MLS franchise — which would cost him in the region of 30 million pound sterling. “I have an option to own a franchise as soon as I finish playing and I will start that immediately. It is something I’m really excited about.”

This much vilified as well as idolized footballer has already made impact in America, some reports would suggest. Surveys suggest that attendance increased in MLS matches involving Galaxy and Beckham.

Helping to get football into the national consciousness has been Beckham’s greatest achievement, says Professor Andrei Markovits of the University of Michigan and author of the book ‘Offside: Soccer and American Exceptionalism’ which explores why football has never become the phenomenon in America that it has in the rest of the world.

Beckham Impact in MLS:

1. ESPN viewing figures 23% higher for games Beckham plays in
2. League-record crowd of 66,237 watches Beckham play for LA against New York in August 2007
3. Galaxy capitalised on the interest in Beckham by increasing ticket prices from USD 21.50 to USD 32, which helped their revenue for the 2007 season increase to USD 7,436,529. That accounted for an impressive 21% of the entire league’s revenue in 2007.
4. Galaxy become only the second in history of US team sports to have a shirt sponsor in 2007.
5. LA Galaxy jersey is Adidas’s worldwide best seller in 2007
6. Beckham played a total of 30 matches for Galaxy, contributing five goals and 12 assists though Galaxy finished 11th in 2007 and 12th in 2008 (out of 13 teams)
7. He played just five times in 2007 because of a persistent ankle injury and Galaxy finished 11th in the 13-team league.
8. The midfielder managed 25 appearances in 2008, scoring five goals and supplying 10 assists, but could not prevent Galaxy finishing 12th.

Beckham Factfile:

1. Full name: David Robert Joseph Beckham
2. Date of birth: May 2, 1975
3. Place of birth: Leytonstone, London
4. Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
5. Number of England caps till date: 108 (currently tied with Bobby Moore as England’s most-capped outfield player; goalkeeper Peter Shilton holds the record for most caps) with 17 goals.
6. Twice runners-up for FIFA World Player of the Year
7. World’s highest-paid footballer in 2004
8. England captain for 58 matches from November 15, 2000 to 2006 FIFA World Cup finals.
9. Signed with Manchester United in 1992 aged 17; won the Premier League title six times (1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003), the FA Cup twice (1996, 1999), UEFA Champions League and World Club Championship in 1999.
10. Left Manchester United for Real Madrid in 2003 for 25 million pound sterling, where he remained for four seasons, clinching the La Liga championship in his final season with the club (2003).
11. In January 2007, Beckham signed a five-year contract with Major League Soccer club Los Angeles Galaxy as the highest paid player in MLS history.
12. In January 2009: Joins AC Milan on loan until March 8
13. Mar 8, 2009: Beckham to stay on AC Milan on loan till July 15, 2009.