Not content with limiting himself to football on his side of the pond, American football GOAT  Tom Brady has made investments in association football, known in America as soccer, as well. He acquired a minor stake in EFL One’s Birmingham City FC in August of 2023. But he’s not the only American to have been making investments in soccer.

In 2021, Hollywood superstars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney made a surprise takeover of a small Welsh club. Wrexham AFC, though playing in the 5th league (the National League) at the time, had a storied past. Wrexham AFC is the 3rd oldest football club in the world, founded in 1864, a club with heritage. Since the so-called “Hollywood takeover” the club has thrived, currently playing in the third highest division – English Football League One.

Brady’s Brummies vs. Reynolds’ Wrexxies: here’s how it went

Tom Brady was in attendance for this so-called “Hollywood match,” and he’d brought legendary striker David Beckham with him. And Brady’s boys smashed Wrexham AFC’s team. We’re sure Reynolds and McElhenney would be disappointed. The defeat brought Wrexham AFC’s 3-match win streak to a close. However, Tom Brady is infamous for never resting on his laurels, nothing is ever quite enough for the big guy. He was quick to put up an Instagram story: “When’s the @intermiamifc friendly?” read the caption, with him tagging David Beckham himself.

In the course of the match, Wrexham AFC actually opened strong, with a corner kick goal from Jack Marriott in the 3rd minute of the game. Of course, Birmingham City FC’s Jay Stansfield was quick to equalize scores in the 22nd minute of the game, with the scores remaining level till half-time. The second half was a different story – a second goal from Stansfeld and another from Tomoki Iwata sealed the deal. The match ended with the score 3-1, Birmingham City FC coming out on top.

Why did Brady tag Beckham?

David Beckham is undeniably most associated with Manchester United, winning the Premier League with them 6 times, and the UEFA Champions League once. But after finally hanging up his boots in 2013, having played for teams like Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and the LA Galaxy (not to mention his international career playing for England), he moved on to investing in football instead.

He was a founding co-owner of Inter Miami CF, who played their first game in 2020. The club has since become famous for their 2023 acquisition of Lionel Messi, a contender for soccer GOAT. With Tom Brady riding high on Birmingham City FC’s win over Wrexham AFC, he’s keen on his team taking on the big dogs. IMCF won the 2023 Leagues Cup, and currently tops the 2024 MLS table.

With a stacked team of legends up against an EFL One team, could the odds ever really be fair? But maybe Brady picked up the gift of banter in the UK, and it’s all in good jest. Brady, Reynolds, and Beckham all have in common that they thrive as living brands. This friendly jostling serves to boost everyone’s profile simultaneously. Our recent Think Tank episode with guest Doug Sanders focused on Athlete Branding, something you might find interesting. Check it out to learn more.