How David Beckham changed MLS forever

Whether you're a fan of football (Americans read soccer) or not, you've more than likely heard the name David Beckham. From the late '90s through the better part of the early 2000s, Beckham was a global sensation on and off the pitch. Whether it was the countless hairstyles, his marriage to one of the world's biggest pop stars, or simply his status as a sex symbol, Beckham was larger than life. Oh, and the bloke had one of the deadliest free kicks in the game.

Point is, Beckham could score goals and drive revenue wherever he went. But the goals started drying up after his move to Real Madrid, following years of success with Manchester United. As he neared the end of his contract in Madrid, Beckham became an afterthought. So he faced a crossroads: stick it out with Madrid, or test the market elsewhere. The dark horse option? Major League Soccer. A league that had nearly gone extinct just a few years earlier, viewed as a spot where international stars go to die.