Beckham, love him or hate him or whatever is the most famous athlete on the Planet.
You said it.
Whoever said that there are other players more famous around than Beckham are 100% wrong.
Yes, most of us know that Beckham is just an above average soccer player and he can't even play to the level of some other above average players such as Joe Cole, Mauro Camoranesi, Giggs, Robben, Deco, etc... To compare his skills to Kaka, Dinho, Messi, Totti, is just ridiculous.
However, he is BY FAR the most recognizable soccer player in the world at the current moment and for the past 8 years.
You can go to Asia and ask any girl the ages 15-40 who David Beckham is and they will know. Do the same in Canada, and the USA. Go to the same Girls and ask them who Ronaldinho is, and you'll be surprised that less than half (maybe more) will have a clue.
And to conclude....It seems to be the cool thing to say "he's a 2nd rate player...he's not even good...etc." But let's face facts:
1999: Manchester United won the Treble (CL, Premeirship, FA cup). Name me another current player who has done this....It's difficult because only ManU did so for the past 4 decades. He was one of the best players on ManU that year, and he was the one who took them past Juve in the Semis. (I believe that in the past 20 years, nobody other than Milan and 1999 ManU have won a treble amongst the big 3 leagues)
2007: Real Madrid - La Liga Champions. He was arguably one of Madrid's better players in the 2nd half of the season, helping them come from behind and win the league, surpassing the Almighty Barcelona.
I'm the farthest thing from a Beckham fan, but to deny that he is the most recognizable and popular player in the world is insane and to call him a 2nd rate soccer player is preposterous. He can still play at almost any club in the world