David Beckham Lovers

While Goldenballs was at the height of his footballing fame at Real Madrid, Nathan Hewitt, 15, was one of the fattest schoolboys in the country

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A 23-stone man who lost half his body weight has been offered a new career - as a David Beckham lookalike.

Nathan Hewitt, 24, weighed twice as much as football legend Beckham and was being bullied at school.

But underneath the folds of fat he was the spitting image of the England star, recently revealed as the celebrity that men would most like to look-like.

Nathan started hitting the gym for gruelling fitness sessions, just like the Manchester United, Real Madrid and Los Angeles Galaxy winger.

And after losing 12-stone he was approached by a look-alike agency and asked to impersonate Beckham, 38, according to Wales Online.

Health fanatic Nathan said: "I can't complain really, he's obviously a good looking chap.

"As soon as I lost the weight people started telling me I looked like him, I just laughed it off at first.

"Then I was approached by a look-alike agency asking me if I was interested in pretending to be him.

"I thought "hang on a minute, maybe I can use this to my advantage"."

While Beckham was at the height of his footballing fame Nathan, 15, was one of the fattest schoolboys in the country.

The pair both had blonde highlights but that was were the similarities ended - Nathan tipped the scales weighing more than 300lbs.

He was bullied constantly by other school children who would grab his chest and say "nice t***".

But Nathan was shamed into shedding the pounds after ridiculed for being too fat to get on white-knuckle ride Air at Alton Towers.

Now Nathan has halved his bodyweight, he regularly gets compared to Beckham because of his trendy haircut, beard and expensive body art.

But he had to turn down the look-alike job because he "knows nothing about football".

Nathan said: "It is one thing to look like him but I would feel a bit daft trying to pass myself off as one of the most famous footballers in the world.

"I am happy being me but if people mistake me for becks I'm happy with that."

Nathan has now set himself up as a slimming coach, with Government funding to tackle Britain's childhood obesity crisis.

He said: "I've been there, I know how it feels to be massive - you only have to look at my old photographs to see I was huge.

"But I can use my experience to encourage other overweight children to slim down and change to healthy lifestyles.

"A lot of obese children don't think they can make the changes they need to lose weight - but I'm there to show them they can.

"It's hard but it is do-able and I'm the example of that.

"My life has changed in so many ways - I'm more confident, healthier, fitter. I really feel like a different person to when I was 15 and over 300lbs."

The mum-of-four embarked on the life-changing trip with AIDS charity Born Free, who are teaming up with the fashion industry

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The handsome football star posted the hot shot on his Facebook page

David Beckham / Facebook

Here's a picture of a topless David Beckham - happy Wednesday!

David Beckham's only just gone and brightened up our day with a topless and very smiley shot of him lounging by his hotel pool in Macua.

Looking happy and relaxed, the stubbly father-of-four wrote: "Having a great time in Macau at Venetian Macao."

The shot quickly clocked up over 520,000 likes.

Meanwhile, the hotel replied: "Our favourite #selfie! Welcome back David Beckham!"

On Sunday the former England player appeared as a special guest on Chinese TV show, Role Model's Voice.

The 38-year-old was flying solo as Victoria Beckham was spotted jetting into LAX with her brood on Tuesday following her 40th birthday celebrations - where David had been just days before.

The bikini-clad former Spice Girl posted the shot of her and a topless and tanned David soaking up the sun on her special day, under the caption: "Having a wonderful day with my family x vb."

Twitter/@victoriabeckham

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 01: David Moyes manager of Manchester United looks on during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final first leg match between Manchester United and FC Bayern Muenchen at Old Trafford on April 1, 2014. (Photo by Michael Regan/Bongarts/Getty Images)

It has been a season of painful lows for the beleaguered manager, but United greats, from Ferguson to Keane, have been overwhelmingly positive about him throughout the season.

"I'm not interested in managing again or getting myself worked up about Manchester United's results. United are in good hands with David Moyes. He will be fine. He's a good manager."

"I think that David Moyes is a great manager, but it takes time. You know he's joined a club like Manchester United, one of the biggest clubs in the world, and there's a transitional period."

"I think Moyes signed because he has a long-term project. I think he is strong enough to handle the pressure."

"I think United will be all right and David Moyes will get plenty of time. The man deserves it. He's got vast experience, but his staff and a couple of senior players, they have to step up to the plate."

"He's nine months into the job and you have to stand by him. He's made a couple of signings that haven't worked out yet as he would have liked. In the summer he's going to need backing, there's no doubt about that."

Landon Donovan made a charismatic appearance on The Dan Patrick Show on Tuesday, chatting amiably with the veteran sports pundit on a wide variety of topics ranging from the World Cup to Boyz II Men to hair plugs - including a potential future move to the upcoming MLS expansion club in Miami.

"Everyone's got a price, Dan," said the LA Galaxy and US national team star when Patrick asked if he'd join the project being supervised by former teammate David Beckham. "Potentially. Not for a few years. I'm in LA for a few more years."

After Patrick broached the topic of Donovan's relationship with Beckham, Donovan playfully revealed that the English icon had recently made a "weird" visit to the LA locker room.

"He was a teammate of ours, so he comes around from time to time. But now he walks in the locker room as an opposing owner. Is that OK, or no?" said Donovan, who signed a contract extension with the Galaxy last year. "That's not OK, right? I sort of felt that. [New England Revolution owner] Robert Kraft wouldn't walk in our locker room."

Patrick asked why he didn't intervene to eject the ex-Galaxy midfielder.

"Well, it wasn't up to me, unfortunately," said Donovan. "I love David, I want him around but it's a little weird, [him] walking in the locker room now. I told him that, too. I told him, 'You're an owner now, you can't do that.'"

Donovan also played it coy when asked whether he intended to retire from international soccer after this summer's World Cup - even though he steadfastly insisted that he's not certain of a place on Jurgen Klinsmann's squad.

"I don't know. We'll see," he said. "Depends on how I feel."

The David Beckham of cricket, Jimmy Anderson, is aiming to make a splash in the fashion world with his menswear brand.

James Anderson Collection by Chess London, the new fashion range by Lancashire and England cricketer James "Jimmy" Anderson. The collection will have a glitzy launch in Manchester in May 2014.

Cricket star Jimmy Anderson is aiming to make a splash in the fashion world with his first range of menswear.

And he's certainly done that with his first smouldering photo shoot for the range, in which he's pictured dripping wet in a swimming pool in the clothes.

Lancashire and England cricketer Jimmy shot the new campaign at a swanky house in Alderley Edge last week, and will launch his James Anderson Collection with a VIP bash in Manchester city centre on May 1.

The range is a collaboration with fashion firm Chess London, which specialises in clothes for the more athletic-figured fella. Yes, that means all those hunky chaps blessed with muscular arms, shoulders and chests, but who still like a slim-fitting silhouette.

Jimmy, once hailed the David Beckham of the cricket world, tells me he has always had a keen interest in fashion and after wearing some of Chess's pieces on a fashion shoot approached them about doing his own range.

He says: "Athletic men do have good bodies and we want to show it off I guess. I've always loved fashion and shopping, and I like to look smart. So being able to work on my own fashion range has been really exciting."

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Jimmy, 31, admits he's had a spot of ribbing from his cricket pals in the dressing room - but now they've seen the wares they're all after samples themselves.

He says: "Amongst the ribbing I've been getting, on a serious note they've given me some great positive feedback."

While he's still committed to his cricket, he admits there's also an eye to the future with the tailored fashion range, which is priced from £50 for a t-shirt up to £350 for a suit jacket.

He said: "That was always in my thinking. Hopefully I'll play for a few more years yet, but I'm in my 30s, I don't have a definite time frame. But to have something like this going alongside is great, if it goes well with the spring/summer collection I'd love to do Autumn/winter too."

He said modelling for his range of t-shirts, shorts, suits and shirts was daunting at first, but he soon got into the spirit.

He laughs: "Modelling is very different to what I'm used to, and I was a bit apprehensive, but once I got into it and I quite enjoyed it.

"It wasn't my idea to jump into the pool, I'm not that creative, but I'm really pleased with the results."

Yes, so are we Jimmy...

It's not that often you hear from David Beckham on the Internets, so this selfie definitely deserves some fanfare.

DB refrains from Twitter - sadly - but he does post the occasional photo on Facebook. And just look, look with your eyes at this bad boy. Oh, David. You do treat us well.

David is in Macau in China, doing some sunbathing, by the looks of it. When not sunbathing, Golden Balls has been on Chinese telly, on a show called Role Model's Voice, doing role model things for kids. Lovely.

Anyway. Back to the selfie. We'd quite like to be in that swimming pool, too. There's definitely space.

And what do we spy... but a lion in the background?! It's as if David knew that it was the emblem of England (no, he probably didn't). But... maybe he did. We'll pretend he did, anyway, because the World Cup starts pretty soon.

Meanwhile, Victoria has got the kids and has been busy doing 40-year-old-stuff, now that she's 40 and all (don't worry, David was there for her actual birthday - they went hiking in the Grand Canyon, to celebrate, surprisingly, with Gordon Ramsey and his wife Tana. As you do. Which sounds more like torture to us, but we never were into hiking. Too much like PE. Especially with Gordon Ramsay getting sweary in the background. No thank you.)

Victoria has also revealed that she has 'crazy moments of self-doubt' (aww! VB!) about her career. David, stop sunbathing and give that lady a hug.

It's not that often you hear from David Beckham on the Internets, so this selfie definitely deserves some fanfare.

DB refrains from Twitter - sadly - but he does post the occasional photo on Facebook. And just look, look with your eyes at this bad boy. Oh, David. You do treat us well.

David is in Macau in China, doing some sunbathing, by the looks of it. When not sunbathing, Golden Balls has been on Chinese telly, on a show called Role Model's Voice, doing role model things for kids. Lovely.

Anyway. Back to the selfie. We'd quite like to be in that swimming pool, too. There's definitely space.

And what do we spy... but a lion in the background?! It's as if David knew that it was the emblem of England (no, he probably didn't). But... maybe he did. We'll pretend he did, anyway, because the World Cup starts pretty soon.

Meanwhile, Victoria has got the kids and has been busy doing 40-year-old-stuff, now that she's 40 and all (don't worry, David was there for her actual birthday - they went hiking in the Grand Canyon, to celebrate, surprisingly, with Gordon Ramsey and his wife Tana. As you do. Which sounds more like torture to us, but we never were into hiking. Too much like PE. Especially with Gordon Ramsay getting sweary in the background. No thank you.)

Victoria has also revealed that she has 'crazy moments of self-doubt' (aww! VB!) about her career. David, stop sunbathing and give that lady a hug.

The footballer shared this cheeky poolside snap on his personal Facebook page earlier today, with the caption: 'Having a great time in Macau at Venetian Macao'.

Don't worry, we had to Google it too. Macau is one of the two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China, the other being Hong Kong. Duh.

David's been in China for a few days promoting the new Jaguar (and his dashing looks, clearly) and also appeared on a TV show in a slick suit, kicking about a ball. Swoon. Just, swoon. (Soz, we don't have the pic to show you, but it's good, trust us).

While Dave's been sunning it up on the other side of the world, Victoria's Beckham's been banging on about her latest health and diet secrets over on Twitter while she enjoys her latest trip to L.A., where she celebrated her 40th birthday last week.

So yep, save that pic of David and stare at it whenever today gets hard, it'll take the edge off, we promise.

The David Beckham of cricket, Jimmy Anderson, is aiming to make a splash in the fashion world with his menswear brand.

James Anderson Collection by Chess London, the new fashion range by Lancashire and England cricketer James "Jimmy" Anderson. The collection will have a glitzy launch in Manchester in May 2014.

Cricket star Jimmy Anderson is aiming to make a splash in the fashion world with his first range of menswear.

And he's certainly done that with his first smouldering photo shoot for the range, in which he's pictured dripping wet in a swimming pool in the clothes.

Lancashire and England cricketer Jimmy shot the new campaign at a swanky house in Alderley Edge last week, and will launch his James Anderson Collection with a VIP bash in Manchester city centre on May 1.

The range is a collaboration with fashion firm Chess London, which specialises in clothes for the more athletic-figured fella. Yes, that means all those hunky chaps blessed with muscular arms, shoulders and chests, but who still like a slim-fitting silhouette.

Jimmy, once hailed the David Beckham of the cricket world, tells me he has always had a keen interest in fashion and after wearing some of Chess's pieces on a fashion shoot approached them about doing his own range.

He says: "Athletic men do have good bodies and we want to show it off I guess. I've always loved fashion and shopping, and I like to look smart. So being able to work on my own fashion range has been really exciting."

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Jimmy, 31, admits he's had a spot of ribbing from his cricket pals in the dressing room - but now they've seen the wares they're all after samples themselves.

He says: "Amongst the ribbing I've been getting, on a serious note they've given me some great positive feedback."

While he's still committed to his cricket, he admits there's also an eye to the future with the tailored fashion range, which is priced from £50 for a t-shirt up to £350 for a suit jacket.

He said: "That was always in my thinking. Hopefully I'll play for a few more years yet, but I'm in my 30s, I don't have a definite time frame. But to have something like this going alongside is great, if it goes well with the spring/summer collection I'd love to do Autumn/winter too."

He said modelling for his range of t-shirts, shorts, suits and shirts was daunting at first, but he soon got into the spirit.

He laughs: "Modelling is very different to what I'm used to, and I was a bit apprehensive, but once I got into it and I quite enjoyed it.

"It wasn't my idea to jump into the pool, I'm not that creative, but I'm really pleased with the results."

Yes, so are we Jimmy...

David Beckham is living it up in Macau and posted a topless photo of himself in a pool at the super-luxury all-suite Venetian Macau hotel.

David looked happy and relaxed as he showed off his tan while standing in one of the Venetian pools at the resort.

The footballer shared the photo with his 37 million fans on Facebook and wrote: "Having a great time in Macau at Venetian Macao".

The Venetian Macau is an all-suite luxury resort with world-class duty free shopping, entertainment and dining under one roof. While at the resort, David can have a splash in one of four outdoor swimming pools, go on a gondola ride and play mini golf.

Just this weekend, he was in Beijing and updated his Facebook status to: "Arrived in Beijing today, it's great to be back in China. Looking forward to the Jaguar event tonight."

Having a wonderful day with my family x vb http://ift.tt/1hRdfNB

The 38-year-old sporting star had attended the Jaguar F-Type Coupe Launch before the 2014 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition on Saturday.

He spoke at the Jaguar launch as the car brand's ambassador and was pictured looking dapper in a stylish suit.

David didn't say if he was in Macau for business or pleasure but in December it was reported that the underwear model was signed to help promote Las Vegas Sands' properties in Singapore and Macau.

Before his trip to Asia, the father of four celebrated wife Victoria's 40th birthday with their brood and Gordon Ramsay's family at the Grand Canyon, America.

Victoria posted a photo of herself lying on her topless hubby on Twitter and wrote: "Having a wonderful day with my family x vb"

LORIENT, France - For David Beckham the footballer, this really was the very end.

Now begins the rest of his already very famous life.

At a small, homely stadium on the Brittany coast of western France, with seagulls flying overhead and a world away from football temples like Manchester United's Old Trafford where fans used to sing his name, Beckham on Sunday officially became football's most famous new retiree.

A thigh injury made Beckham unavailable for Paris Saint-Germain's final match of the season. Coach Carlo Ancelotti had also previously suggested that the plastic turf pitch in Lorient's stadium might be too taxing for Beckham's 38-year-old legs.

So Beckham sat this one out. He didn't have to make the trip, since he wasn't on the team, but still he tagged along for the ride one last time.

Hands buried in the pockets of his red team top, his usually immaculately coiffed hair toasting under a wooly black hat, Beckham took his place on the PSG bench with zero fanfare. He was so inconspicuous that it's probably safe to say that many in the 16,336-strong crowd didn't realize he was there at all, that they were party to a final little dollop of Beckham football history.

Beckham announced his retirement May 16. He shed tears two days later at his last home game for PSG, getting a rousing send-off and standing ovation in Paris. That, as it turned out, was the last match of his career. Ancelotti said Beckham picked up an injury in that game, was unable to train in the week since, "and so he was not able to play" on Sunday.

Even though he had no role in the 3-1 win for PSG, Beckham will find this match hard to forget - and not merely because it marked the finish to his 21 seasons as a professional footballer, a journey that saw him win titles and trophies with Man Utd, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy and now the new French champions.

Lorient President Loic Fery marked the occasion Sunday by giving Beckham one of his team's bright orange jerseys with Beckham's name on the back above the number seven and the word "Kenavo," which means "Good-bye" in Breton, the Celtic language of Brittany. Up in the stands, fans played bagpipes and luxuriated in the warm evening sun.

In the 81st minute, the match turned bizarre. Referee Benoit Bastien sent off PSG's keeper, Ronan Le Crom, for felling Julien Quercia as the Lorient forward was sprinting for the ball in front of the Paris goal.

Le Crom is a reserve 'keeper for PSG. He was born in Lorient. At age 38, it's possible this is his last season. So Ancelotti brought him on, a kind gesture, for the last 30 minutes, replacing Alphonse Areola.

When Le Crom was then sent off, that left no one to guard PSG's goal. Ancelotti called on Mamadou Sakho, a defender, to do the job. Sakho was sitting next to Beckham on the bench. They had shared a blanket to warm their legs and joked around while watching the game. Then, suddenly, Sakho was having to borrow Areola's used pink jersey and pull on a pair of goalkeeper's gloves.

His first task: facing the spot kick the referee awarded for Le Crom's foul. Beating Sakho was child's play for Arnaud Le Lan, who easily slotted away the penalty for Lorient. Sakho didn't even dive to stop it.

Le Crom trudged off in tears. PSG teammates consoled him with a group hug. Beckham patted him on the head.

"It's most likely the last match of his career," PSG midfielder Blaise Matuidi said of Le Crom. "The referee could have been a bit softer with him and shown a bit of compassion."

After Bastien blew the final whistle, Beckham sought out the referee to give him a piece of his mind. He made the "Are you crazy?" gesture - tapping a finger against his temple.

What was said remained between them, because Beckham walked quickly past reporters without talking after the match.

"I didn't play" was all he said, by way of explanation for his silence.

Then he disappeared up a flight of steps to PSG's waiting bus and fans shouting "Dav-eeeed!" The bus has Beckham's name and those of his teammates painted on its side.

And that was it.

All in all, this was a very low-key final footnote to one of football's most storied careers. One couldn't help but feel sorry for two Irish fans who travelled by boat, bus and train from Dublin and paid something like 10 times the going rate over the Internet for tickets, in hopes of seeing Beckham bend it just one last time. Ciaran Donnelly, 22, and Aidan Mulvey, 21, hung their home-made banner marked "thanks for the memories Becks" on a fence by the stadium. Donnelly said Beckham had been his hero from childhood - when he'd owned a Beckham teddy bear and slept in Beckham pyjamas under a Beckham duvet.

Although Beckham the footballer is finished, Beckham the brand, the fashion maven, the businessman, the sport ambassador - the list is long and varied - is not. The challenge now will be to adapt his brand, so that it and he continue to thrive without the limelight that playing football brought.

"We might just never see the like of David Beckham again," Simon Chadwick, an expert in sport business and marketing at Coventry University in England, said in an interview. "I don't think there's anybody in the world right now who has the potential to become the next brand Beckham."

© Copyright Times Colonist

Landon Donovan made a charismatic appearance on the Dan Patrick Show on Monday, chatting amiably with the veteran sports pundit on a wide variety of topics ranging from the World Cup to Boyz II Men to hair plugs - including a potential future move to the upcoming MLS expansion club in Miami.

"Everyone's got a price, Dan," said the LA Galaxy and US national team star when Patrick asked if he'd join the project being supervised by former teammate David Beckham. "Potentially. Not for a few years. I'm in LA for a few more years."

After Patrick broached the topic of Donovan's relationship with Beckham, Donovan playfully revealed that the English icon had recently made a "weird" visit to the LA locker room.

"He was a teammate of ours, so he comes around from time to time. But now he walks in the locker room as an opposing owner. Is that OK, or no?" said Donovan, who signed a contract extension with the Galaxy last year. "That's not OK, right? I sort of felt that. [New England Revolution owner] Robert Kraft wouldn't walk in our locker room."

Patrick asked why he didn't intervene to eject the ex-Galaxy midfielder.

"Well, it wasn't up to me, unfortunately," said Donovan. "I love David, I want him around but it's a little weird, [him] walking in the locker room now. I told him that, too. I told him, 'You're an owner now, you can't do that.'"

Donovan also played it coy when asked whether he intended to retire from international soccer after this summer's World Cup - even though he steadfastly insisted that he's not certain of a place on Jurgen Klinsmann's squad.

"I don't know. We'll see," he said. "Depends on how I feel."

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 01: David Moyes manager of Manchester United looks on during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final first leg match between Manchester United and FC Bayern Muenchen at Old Trafford on April 1, 2014. (Photo by Michael Regan/Bongarts/Getty Images)

It has been a season of painful lows for the beleaguered manager, but United greats, from Ferguson to Keane, have been overwhelmingly positive about him throughout the season.

"I'm not interested in managing again or getting myself worked up about Manchester United's results. United are in good hands with David Moyes. He will be fine. He's a good manager."

"I think that David Moyes is a great manager, but it takes time. You know he's joined a club like Manchester United, one of the biggest clubs in the world, and there's a transitional period."

"I think Moyes signed because he has a long-term project. I think he is strong enough to handle the pressure."

"I think United will be all right and David Moyes will get plenty of time. The man deserves it. He's got vast experience, but his staff and a couple of senior players, they have to step up to the plate."

"He's nine months into the job and you have to stand by him. He's made a couple of signings that haven't worked out yet as he would have liked. In the summer he's going to need backing, there's no doubt about that."

David Beckham suits up while attending the Jaguar F-Type Coupe Launch before the 2014 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition on Saturday (April 19) in Beijing, China.

The 38-year-old soccer legend was spotted speaking at the launch as the car brand's ambassador.

Earlier in the week, David showed off his shirtless body while celebrating his wife Victoria Beckham's 40th birthday.

FYI: The Beijing International Automotive Exhibition is an auto show held biennially in Beijing, China since 1990.

10+ pictures inside of David Beckham attending a launch for Jaguar F-Type Coupe...

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Football isn't always played on a length of grass, with eleven players, in a stadium full of packed supporters. Football, in the minds of us all, can be played on any surface, in any arena, and in a host of different ways. Luckily for us dreamers, the realms of fantasy aren't exclusively limited to the depths of our imaginations.

Throughout the years, visionary brand marketing has brought us the beautiful game in a host of hilarious circumstances, often with the very best footballers of the generation.

Talking of which, one of the latest offerings to the small screen was the 'Pele vs Ronaldo' by Emirates airline, with the two players pitted together at 30,000 feet in anticipation of the summer World Cup in Brazil.

Welcome to a celebration of such genius, with Soccerlens picking it's top 10 football adverts of all time, with every one an absolute gem. It will be tough to choose an absolute winner, but we will endeavor to whittle things down to just one joyous advertisement of genuine excellence, one that has stood the test of time and is just as thrilling today as on the first day it aired.

Nike appears a fair few times on this list, and its not a particular surprise considering their line of work. The football gear manufacturer has produced many masterpieces over the years, and their 'write the future' campaign is no exception.

The likes of Didier Drogba, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo tear up the pitch throughout, imagining the far-reaching effects of their every touch, and we are thrown from the heights of hilarity to the epic seriousness of how football matters so much to so many millions.

The sight of Rooney in a string vest will stay with us forever, and we have been humming the Cannavaro song for hours.

9. 'Good vs Evil', Nike, 1996

Coming in at number nine is arguably the weirdest advert of the lot; footballers vs demons. And by demons, we mean a huge, winged bat monster and his distinctly Maori-looking minions, who seem to have recently visited the dentist en mass.

Paolo Maldini saves the day at the last minute, with the likes of Ian Wright and Patrick Kluivert battered into submission, before Eric Cantona, with a line fit for a Stalone B-movie, obliterates the winged horror with a strike through the midriff. Genius.

8. 'The Airport', Nike, 1998

Boredom isn't in the Brazilian vocabulary, not if you're a footballer that is, and this next advert shows off the 1998 national team's penchant for fun/destruction in a packed international airport.

One hopes that the security has bulked up since the event, with Ronaldo, Denilson and Roberto Carlos among the anarchists, rebelling as one against their delayed plane. Wonderfully choreographed, and with a cute ending, its one of the very best.

Luis Figo and (the real) Ronaldo made footballing history in this next clip, coining the 'Ole' phrase for all tricksters to come.

Forgetting their obligations as professionals, Figo starts a riot of sorts, pitching his Portugal side against the might of the Brazilians in a battle of skills.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Eric Cantona make cameo appearances, as Ronaldinho dances his way onto the pitch, only to be defectively halted by an irate referee. The two sides' battered and bruised appearance push this piece from good to brilliant.

6. 'Medieval football', Pepsi, 2004

What do you do when hordes of barbarians enter your quaint little village, pillaging your badly hidden cans of Pepsi and shouting lots? Well, you rely on David Beckham 's team of footballing legends to sort the mess out, with the aid of a leather football.

Francesco Totti, for our money, should have fronted the gang, with the Italian as close to a gladiator as is possible for a 21st century footballer to be. Still, Roberto Carlos is the man to finally banish the raiders, firing a free-kick perfectly against the padlock holding the spoils.

5. 'Distracted Linesman', Kit Kat, 2006

What an idea. The infamous Geoff Hurst 'goal' of the 1966 World Cup is one of the iconic scenes of footballing history, but was it in?

Well, thanks to a sneaky bar of Nestle's finest, the linesman is clueless, but hurriedly calls it, much to the dismay of the apoplectic Germans. Simple, poignant, and just hilarious.

4. 'The Western', Pepsi, 2003

Now we enter the business end of the list, and really every advert deserves the crown of best ever, but to the predicted dismay of many, we have to be brutal.

This next one is so good, it should have been made into a feature length piece. Yes, it would probably fall into the kids category, such is the acting involved, but the idea is priceless, and I for one would dance down to the cinema for a 'Spapepsi' western starring Manchester United and Real Madrid!

Its ominous opening, with David 'quick-draw' Beckham entering an intimidating Madrid bar is wonderfully, inadvertently ended with the first line. 'Pepsi' utters Beckham, with as much conviction as a spayed rat. A shoot-out then transpires, with Becks facing his soon to be Real teammate Iker Casillas in a makeshift wooden goal.

Rivaldo's cameo, coupled with a bandit's wanted poster in the background, is a touch of class. We want more!

3. 'Scorpion KO', Nike, 2002

Third place goes to Nike's classic offering, 'Scorpion KO', aka 'The Secret Tournament'.

With a whole host of the world's very best players lured to a frigate moored in a spooky stretch of water, Eric (yes, him again) Cantona hosts an exclusive event on board, with teams of three pitted against each other in cages with the smallest of goals to aim for. Oh, and it's golden goal rules.

Directed by 'Brazil' and 'Twelve Monkeys' director Terry Gilliam, this was actually quite a straightforward advert, but a real joy nonetheless. So many stars, and so much footage, The Cage is a sublime test of skill and teamwork. So good in fact, that they made a sequel, and seemingly killed off poor Luis Figo.

We're still not sure how Rio Ferdinand got an invite, let alone managed to get to the boat.

2. 'Joga Bonito', Nike, 2006

Eric Cantona fronts a revolutionary group here called 'Joga Bonito', or to use the translation, 'Play Beautiful'. A series of clips were drip fed over a period of time (perhaps giving an unfair advantage to the stand alone adverts), with some brilliant ideas thrown up.

Check out a compilation of some of the best clips below...

The Ronaldinho crossbar clip is arguably the most discussed football advert of all time, while Thierry Henry 's outrageous street football moves captured the imagination of us all, and we all pondered who won, Zlatan or CR7?

1. 'The Mission', Nike, 2000

Despite the quality of the many other adverts here, Nike's 'The Mission' comes out on top for us, with just under two minutes of perfection coming our way via the likes of Edgar Davids, Oliver Bierhoff and Louis van Gaal.

Riveting television, it certainly is, with Davids' laser-vision, Lillian Thuram's baritone squalls, and Van Gaals' logical justification for the raid: "No! It's rounder!"

Sensational!

Bonus Round: Dare to Zlatan', Nike, 2014

We have high hopes for this recent campaign for Swedish demi-god, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. So far, we have only a few short snippets of Zlatan vs life (and fantasy), but boy they look good.

This be our fav. ZLATAAAAN!!!

Watch out people... but seriously, do-gooder and kid-supporter David Beckham showed up in Beijing looking immaculately groomed as per usual to grace the inauguration ceremony of his charity fund for youth football in Beijing.

It's not all good looks, the pretty boy was also named ambassador to the Chinese Super League in March.

Photo credit Ecns.cn

As Victoria Beckham turned 40, laying on the shirtless chest of her famous soccer hubby David, she celebrate the tender relationship moment by displaying it before the entire world on Twitter. The H&M underwear model is reportedly fighting with his investment group to insist on building their new stadium in downtown Miami. The backers are rumored to be weary of the extra $50 million it will cost to build the structure in the flood prone area, but Davey seems to thinks they'll make that money back in added ticket sales, no time.

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Victoria Beckham turned 40 this weekend in one of the most inevitable spots in the world--atop scoccer legend David Beckham's shirtless chest.

Posh decided to immortalize the transformation forever by sending it out to the rest of the planet via Twitter:

"Having a wonderful day with my family x vb"

Not sure what that last part about VD was.

David Beckham has been reportedly struggling to convince his investors group to reconsider their quick dismissal of a downtown soccer stadium, solely because of the additional $50 million it would cost.

David Beckham adviser John Alschuler told the Miami Herald that it makes more since to build the stadium downtown, in terms of the added sponsorships and advertising dollars that would be generated from the premium location (via Local 10):

"Miami's greatness is about the interaction of a vibrant culture and the water.

"We will earn that $50 million back in increased revenue from the stadium."

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez's office has not yet approved the project for downtown Miami, but the Mayor did tell the Herald that it was getting close to now-or-never time:

"We're not there yet...But one way or another, we need to move on with this."

Let's hope for the sake of American soccer that Beckham builds a magnificent stadium as home to an even more spectacular team--regardless of wherever the hell they wind up building the thing in Florida.

Retired footballer David Beckham has been carrying out his duties as Jaguar ambassador by unveiling the new model in China.

The 38-year-old was named as the face of the car manufacturers in March.

Part of the ex-Manchester United star's role required him to unveil the new Jaguar F-Type Coupe at the 13th Beijing International Automotive Exhibition on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Beckham, who celebrated his wife Victoria's 40th birthday in Los Angeles just 24 hours earlier, is facing stadium issues for his MLS franchise in Miami.

Shipping businesses and a billionaire car dealer are opposing Beckham's plans to build a football ground at PortMiami.

Football isn't always played on a length of grass, with eleven players, in a stadium full of packed supporters. Football, in the minds of us all, can be played on any surface, in any arena, and in a host of different ways. Luckily for us dreamers, the realms of fantasy aren't exclusively limited to the depths of our imaginations.

Throughout the years, visionary brand marketing has brought us the beautiful game in a host of hilarious circumstances, often with the very best footballers of the generation.

Talking of which, one of the latest offerings to the small screen was the 'Pele vs Ronaldo' by Emirates airline, with the two players pitted together at 30,000 feet in anticipation of the summer World Cup in Brazil.

Welcome to a celebration of such genius, with Soccerlens picking it's top 10 football adverts of all time, with every one an absolute gem. It will be tough to choose an absolute winner, but we will endeavor to whittle things down to just one joyous advertisement of genuine excellence, one that has stood the test of time and is just as thrilling today as on the first day it aired.

Nike appears a fair few times on this list, and its not a particular surprise considering their line of work. The football gear manufacturer has produced many masterpieces over the years, and their 'write the future' campaign is no exception.

The likes of Didier Drogba, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo tear up the pitch throughout, imagining the far-reaching effects of their every touch, and we are thrown from the heights of hilarity to the epic seriousness of how football matters so much to so many millions.

The sight of Rooney in a string vest will stay with us forever, and we have been humming the Cannavaro song for hours.

9. 'Good vs Evil', Nike, 1996

Coming in at number nine is arguably the weirdest advert of the lot; footballers vs demons. And by demons, we mean a huge, winged bat monster and his distinctly Maori-looking minions, who seem to have recently visited the dentist en mass.

Paolo Maldini saves the day at the last minute, with the likes of Ian Wright and Patrick Kluivert battered into submission, before Eric Cantona, with a line fit for a Stalone B-movie, obliterates the winged horror with a strike through the midriff. Genius.

8. 'The Airport', Nike, 1998

Boredom isn't in the Brazilian vocabulary, not if you're a footballer that is, and this next advert shows off the 1998 national team's penchant for fun/destruction in a packed international airport.

One hopes that the security has bulked up since the event, with Ronaldo, Denilson and Roberto Carlos among the anarchists, rebelling as one against their delayed plane. Wonderfully choreographed, and with a cute ending, its one of the very best.

Luis Figo and (the real) Ronaldo made footballing history in this next clip, coining the 'Ole' phrase for all tricksters to come.

Forgetting their obligations as professionals, Figo starts a riot of sorts, pitching his Portugal side against the might of the Brazilians in a battle of skills.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Eric Cantona make cameo appearances, as Ronaldinho dances his way onto the pitch, only to be defectively halted by an irate referee. The two sides' battered and bruised appearance push this piece from good to brilliant.

6. 'Medieval football', Pepsi, 2004

What do you do when hordes of barbarians enter your quaint little village, pillaging your badly hidden cans of Pepsi and shouting lots? Well, you rely on David Beckham 's team of footballing legends to sort the mess out, with the aid of a leather football.

Francesco Totti, for our money, should have fronted the gang, with the Italian as close to a gladiator as is possible for a 21st century footballer to be. Still, Roberto Carlos is the man to finally banish the raiders, firing a free-kick perfectly against the padlock holding the spoils.

5. 'Distracted Linesman', Kit Kat, 2006

What an idea. The infamous Geoff Hurst 'goal' of the 1966 World Cup is one of the iconic scenes of footballing history, but was it in?

Well, thanks to a sneaky bar of Nestle's finest, the linesman is clueless, but hurriedly calls it, much to the dismay of the apoplectic Germans. Simple, poignant, and just hilarious.

4. 'The Western', Pepsi, 2003

Now we enter the business end of the list, and really every advert deserves the crown of best ever, but to the predicted dismay of many, we have to be brutal.

This next one is so good, it should have been made into a feature length piece. Yes, it would probably fall into the kids category, such is the acting involved, but the idea is priceless, and I for one would dance down to the cinema for a 'Spapepsi' western starring Manchester United and Real Madrid!

Its ominous opening, with David 'quick-draw' Beckham entering an intimidating Madrid bar is wonderfully, inadvertently ended with the first line. 'Pepsi' utters Beckham, with as much conviction as a spayed rat. A shoot-out then transpires, with Becks facing his soon to be Real teammate Iker Casillas in a makeshift wooden goal.

Rivaldo's cameo, coupled with a bandit's wanted poster in the background, is a touch of class. We want more!

3. 'Scorpion KO', Nike, 2002

Third place goes to Nike's classic offering, 'Scorpion KO', aka 'The Secret Tournament'.

With a whole host of the world's very best players lured to a frigate moored in a spooky stretch of water, Eric (yes, him again) Cantona hosts an exclusive event on board, with teams of three pitted against each other in cages with the smallest of goals to aim for. Oh, and it's golden goal rules.

Directed by 'Brazil' and 'Twelve Monkeys' director Terry Gilliam, this was actually quite a straightforward advert, but a real joy nonetheless. So many stars, and so much footage, The Cage is a sublime test of skill and teamwork. So good in fact, that they made a sequel, and seemingly killed off poor Luis Figo.

We're still not sure how Rio Ferdinand got an invite, let alone managed to get to the boat.

2. 'Joga Bonito', Nike, 2006

Eric Cantona fronts a revolutionary group here called 'Joga Bonito', or to use the translation, 'Play Beautiful'. A series of clips were drip fed over a period of time (perhaps giving an unfair advantage to the stand alone adverts), with some brilliant ideas thrown up.

Check out a compilation of some of the best clips below...

The Ronaldinho crossbar clip is arguably the most discussed football advert of all time, while Thierry Henry 's outrageous street football moves captured the imagination of us all, and we all pondered who won, Zlatan or CR7?

1. 'The Mission', Nike, 2000

Despite the quality of the many other adverts here, Nike's 'The Mission' comes out on top for us, with just under two minutes of perfection coming our way via the likes of Edgar Davids, Oliver Bierhoff and Louis van Gaal.

Riveting television, it certainly is, with Davids' laser-vision, Lillian Thuram's baritone squalls, and Van Gaals' logical justification for the raid: "No! It's rounder!"

Sensational!

Bonus Round: Dare to Zlatan', Nike, 2014

We have high hopes for this recent campaign for Swedish demi-god, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. So far, we have only a few short snippets of Zlatan vs life (and fantasy), but boy they look good.

This be our fav. ZLATAAAAN!!!

Gordon Ramsay and The Beckhams The Grand Canyon Getaway

British BFFs Gordon Ramsay and David Beckham eschewed the usual celebrity vacation spots for something uniquely American ... a hike in the Grand Canyon.A lucky hiker shot video earlier this week of Ramsay, Becks and wifey Victoria Beckham making their way downward on the Bright Angel Trail.As for how the video came to be, the guy who shot it tells TMZ he didn't notice any of the celebs until he reviewed the footage later. Happy accident!!!The Ramsays and Beckhams are no strangers to vacationing together, having celebrated the New Year allegedly somewhere in Asia.

Even though it is more expensive than other locations in the Miami area, David Beckham and his investment group say they are still considering building their new Major League Soccer stadium at PortMiami.

Experts told the Miami Herald (http://hrld.us/1jTQdFb ) on Friday that building at the port location would cost an extra $50 million because the stadium would have to be elevated from its ground-level flood zone.

But Beckham Advisor John Alschuler said that the location is desirable because of its closeness to the water and view of the downtown skyline.

He said the port location would sell professional soccer better in terms of sponsorships, advertising and luxury suites sold.

"Miami's greatness is about the interaction of a vibrant culture and the water," he said. "We will earn that $50 million back in increased revenue from the stadium."

The group is also considering several other sites including one next to the Miami Marlins ballpark.

The investors are in discussions with the city to finalize a location for the planned $250 million, 25,000 seat stadium.

A lobbyist for the soccer franchise is seeking a state subsidy that acts like a sales-tax rebate that could amount to $40 million over 20 years.

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez's administration has not yet approved the port location. The mayor has said Beckham's investors would have to pay "fair" rent to the county for the valuable property, which is too shallow to accommodate cargo or cruise ships.

Some county commissioners have said they aren't sure of the plan. Opponents of the port location have said they are concerned about it creating traffic problems.

But Beckham has said that the games will mostly be held on Saturday evenings and would not conflict with port cargo or passenger operations.

Gimenez said discussions about the stadium's location are ongoing.

"We're not there yet," Gimenez told the Miami Herald. "But one way or another, we need to move on with this."