How the once 'potential legend' has fallen from grace. Some might argue that he is a legend anyway in that he is probably the most recognised footballer globally at present but it's hardly for his current and recent football that's got him there.

As a Man United supporter, I can fully appreciate what he did for his old club and what he has done and, to a certain extent, what he still is doing for the promotion of football with youngsters worldwide but he has unfortunately left himself wide open to massive criticisms as a result of a few somewhat suspect decisions he has made. He fell out of favour at United because he got too big for his boots and shirked training in favour of promoting aftershave, sunglasses etc. He truly lost touch with what put his name on the lips of most kids in the park or playground in favour of earning yet more ridiculous sums of cash in advertising in addition to the stupid amounts he was earning a week as a footballer.

And so to Real Madrid who obviously were prepared to be a little more tolerant of his outside interests which often conflicted with his duties to his club. At the age of 31, he is hardly 'past it,' and yet for the last 4 years or so, he has been consistently underperforming which has seen him under-utilised in an incredibly fickle Madrid team and, ultimately, stripped of not only his duties as captain of his country, but also his services full-stop.

So he makes the decision to travel to LA where he can work even less hard against a host of teams who are still developing the game in a country that can't even get the name of the sport right, for nothing less than a truly sickening amount of money.

What can be drawn from the above? Well, I see it as a kid rising to super-stardom before he'd fully matured and he simply couldn't handle it and keep a level head. The media most definitely holds a large amount of the responsibility here (as they always do!) and it can be seen to be happening to a lesser extent with the likes of Wayne Rooney et al. at present. The pull of the money involved in all of Beckham's exploits has governed his EVERY motive and decision at the top and the passion for the actual football has been lost.

He is a victim of his own self-greed and, because of this opinion amongst a large community of the global population, he WILL always be remembered even when he hangs up his boots and retires, but not in the same way as the 'True Greats' of the game which he had the opportunity to become but has subsequently spurned now lost.

I hope he finds enough time in such a busy schedule to spend his weekly wages but I can't see that being possible to be honest. It's quite sad when you think about it.