David Beckham net worth steals focus at England semi-final
David Beckham net worth stood centre stage as England faced Argentina in the World Cup semi-final in Atlanta, with Sir David reportedly part of a family fortune of £1.185bn according to the Sunday Times Rich List, while A-listers packed Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the high-stakes clash.
England’s date with defending champions Argentina on Wednesday, 15 July 2026, drew huge Three Lions crowds — and a celebrity roll call — to Atlanta. The Independent reported Sir David Beckham among those in attendance with Lady Victoria and their children, as the winner books a place in the final against Spain on 19 July.
Wealth watchers comparing the stands and the pitch will find more in our Net Worth & Wealth coverage. Beckham co-owns Inter Miami, where Lionel Messi plays, yet the two are on opposite sides for this semi-final.
Key Takeaways
- Beckham and Victoria’s combined wealth reached £1.185bn on the 2026 Sunday Times Rich List, making him the UK’s first billionaire sportsman.
- Forbes puts Messi’s net worth at about £833m, with an MLS salary of £18.5m a year.
- Beckham watched with Victoria, Romeo, Harper, Cruz and Cruz’s partner Jackie Apostel.
- Mick Jagger, Louis Tomlinson, Zara McDermott, 2 Chainz and Millie Bobby Brown were among the famous faces.
- Resale tickets for the Atlanta semi-final reportedly started around £2,000.
What is David Beckham’s net worth ahead of the semi-final?
According to the Manchester Evening News, citing the 2026 Sunday Times Rich List, Beckham and Victoria together are worth £1.185bn. The former England captain, 51 and knighted last November, co-owns Inter Miami — now valued at about $1.45bn (£1.07bn).
His playing peak included a reported £100,000-a-week salary at Manchester United, then spells at Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain before retirement in 2013. Endorsements with Adidas, Pepsi and Hugo Boss have kept his commercial pull high long after he hung up his boots.
How does Messi’s fortune compare on match night?
Forbes estimates Messi at roughly £833m — still behind Beckham’s household total, and behind rival Cristiano Ronaldo’s reported £900m-plus. Messi’s annual MLS pay is put at £18.5m, more than double the next highest-paid player in the league, plus deals with Adidas, Mastercard and Pepsi.
He also holds an option to take an equity stake in Inter Miami after he retires. For England fans, the worry is on the pitch: Messi faces England for the first time in this tournament, per the same Manchester Evening News report.
Who else joined the England v Argentina celebrity crowd?
The Independent listed Rolling Stones frontman Sir Mick Jagger, One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson with girlfriend Zara McDermott, and US rapper 2 Chainz (Tauheed Epps) in the stadium. Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown shared photos in an England top; Peaky Blinders’ Joe Cole posted from inside the ground.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino sat with FA president Debbie Hewitt. Producer Jermaine Dupri was seen at half-time. From home, Ross Kemp, Alan Carr and Olly Murs posted England support online. Pubs in England expected to sell some six million extra pints as fans watched the air-conditioned Atlanta showpiece.