Internet research firm comScore found that visits to mlsnet.com in the U.S attracted just over one million unique visitors in July 2007 – up 117 percent on the previous year.

This growth can be accounted for by the U.S. arrival of former England captain, David Beckham, who was signed by MLS side LA Galaxy at the start of the year.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star is reported to have signed a deal alleged to be worth around £128 million, making him one of the highest paid sports stars of all time.

By the end of 2006, traffic to mlsnet.com had slumped to 230,000 unique visitors, down from 478,000 at the start of the season.

However when LA Galaxy announced the signing of David Beckham in January, traffic immediately jumped to 808,000 unique visitors – a 252 percent month-on-month increase.

In the intermittent period as the camera focus on ‘Brand Beckham’ shifted back to Spain, interest in the MLS site fell away. By March it had fallen to 392,000 unique visitors.

However, with the unveiling of Beckham as a Galaxy player at the club’s ground on July 13^th, and his subsequent playing debut in a friendly match against Chelsea on July 21^st, worldwide traffic to the site rocketed.

* Excludes traffic from public computers such as Internet cafes or access from mobile phones or PDAs.

Bob Ivins, EVP of International Markets at comScore, observed, “David Beckham’s impact on the MLS league’s official website has been enormous. The player has single handedly doubled the number of visitors to mlsnet.com versus this time last year, which let’s not forget was a World Cup year. When you look at the traffic increase that occurred in January just because of the announcement of his signing for the club, the figures speak for themselves. If anyone can raise the profile of the sport in the States, David Beckham is undoubtedly the man to do it. ”

European interest in the U.S. football site exploded following the announcement of the move in January, with traffic increasing 700 percent in December 2006. Like the worldwide trend, visitation immediately tailed off as European eyes refocused on the end of the various football seasons, but picked up again in June and reached its highest ever figure in July, with 255,000 unique visitors.

* Excludes traffic from public computers such as Internet cafes or access from mobile phones or PDAs.

Source: www.comscore.com