BEIJING, April 5 -- England football captain David Beckham has enhanced his position as Britain¡¯s richest young sportsman despite his low productivity with Real Madrid.

David and Victoria Beckham (File photo)

    Beckham, 29, has yet to win a medal since moving to the Bernabeu two years ago yet increased his wealth and overall advantage over fellow sportsmen aged 30 or under in the Sunday Times¡¯ Rich List 2005. In fact, Beckham, whose bounty includes some earnings by wife Victoria, is the only sports personality to feature in the overall list of Britain¡¯s 1,000 most wealthy individuals.

    Their ¡ê75 million (US141 million) fortune places them equal 654th on the main list, thanks to the former Manchester United midfielder¡¯s ¡ê5-million-a-year wages in Spain and ¡ê15-million-a-year-plus endorsements from companies like Gillette, Vodafone and adidas.

    Madrid teammate Michael Owen is the next rung down on the sporting ladder with ¡ê30 million, an increase of ¡ê5 million in a year. However, the 25-year-old has edged ahead of former Liverpool teammate Robbie Fowler, whose investment in property is credited for much of his income.

    Foreign stars Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira, Arsenal¡¯s Frenchmen, and Dutch duo Ruud van Nistelrooy and Patrick Kluivert, of Manchester United and Newcastle respectively, make the top dozen. As does much-maligned Birmingham striker Emile Heskey, who took most of his estimated ¡ê11 million during his time with Liverpool.

    
(Source: Shenzhen Daily/Agencies)