Becali je počeo svoj uspon 200, kad je on preuzeo bukureštanski fudbalski klub Steaua, koji mu je poslužio kao odskočna daska da postane jedna od najpoznatijih ličnosti u zemlji.
Becali's star rose in 2004 when he took over the Steaua Bucharest Football Club, which served as a springboard for him to become one of the most renowned figures in the country.