He played professional soccer in five countries whose teams competed in this year's 2014 FIFA World Cup, so who did David Beckham cheer for primarily?
The 39-year-old British athlete, who retired last year and is among the world's most famous soccer stars, keeps his loyalties on the east side of the pond with England. However, there is another team that remains very close to his heart.
"I think the U.S. have been incredible," he said in an interview promoting the July 8 U.S. release of the DVD The Class of '92, which focuses on Beckham and his former teammates from England's Manchester United soccer team. "I lived in the U.S. for over six years and I know how proud Americans are about their sporting achievements."
The U.S. national team got knocked out of the World Cup when it lost to Belgium earlier this month. Beckham praised Team USA's "passion" and "heart."
Beckham last played in World Cup championships in 2006, with England's national team (see below). In 2007, David left Spain's Real Madrid to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy team. He and wife Victoria Beckham of the Spice Girls moved to a posh neighborhood in the Hollywood Hills and got to hobnob with Hollywood's elite, including Tom Cruise and Will Smith, during their time in America.
On Tuesday, Brazil, which is hosting the World Cup, lost to Germany and is now set to complete for third place this weekend, after which Germany will compete in the final match.
Brazilian native Gisele Bündchen, the highest-paid supermodel in the world and wife of NFL star Tom Brady, had in recent weeks posted photos of herself rooting for her homeland on Instagram. She will escort the trophy in a customized Louis Vuitton case at the World Cup final at Maracana Stadium in the Brazilian capital of Rio de Janeiro, the company, of which she serves as a spokesmodel, announced on Wednesday, July 9.
.@GiseleOfficial will escort the #LouisVuitton trophy case for the final of the 2014 FIFA #WorldCup ? pic.twitter.com/gcl0hNiAm7
? Louis Vuitton (@LouisVuitton) July 9, 2014