England soccer star and the "most popular athlete ever" David Beckham is being offered a whopping 100-million-pound life-long contract, the biggest commercial deal in the history of sport, by German sportswear giant Adidas.
A report in the 'Sunday Mirror' said the 28-year-old midfielder will receive a massive down payment of about 50 million pounds under the terms of his new contract.
Beckham, who plays for Spanish club Real Madrid, will also get a percentage of profits from the sale of sportswear and lucrative payments for promotional and PR work.
Even after Beckham quits football he will remain a brand ambassador and represent the company across the world, the company said.
Beckham has about three years remaining on his present deal with Adidas but the company believe his global market appeal is unsurpassed and will extend beyond his playing days.
"At the moment we are discussing David's future role with the company. He has a contract and that is up for discussion. But we expect the next contract will be for the rest of his career and beyond," Thomas van Schalk, Adidas's global football executive told the tabloid.
The contract, if signed, will make the England captain the undisputed number one in his field.
"David Beckham is the most popular athlete ever," said Van Schalk. "There are a number of athletes that transcend their sport, like Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan - but they're not half as big as Beckham."
© 2024 Rediff.com -