Soccer

Meet the international play boys of the World Cup

These international players aren’t necessarily the best, but they’re certainly the hottest. Hello, World Cup fever!

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano RonaldoAP

Country: Portugal

Age: 29

Sign: Aquarius

Club Team: Real Madrid

Pretty boy Ronaldo has a knack for being, shall we say, vain.

The preternaturally sculpted striker has posed naked for Spanish Vogue, appeared in Emporio Armani underwear ads and, during the Champions League final last month, he scored the final goal and celebrated by ripping off his shirt and flexing.

His ego doesn’t seem to bother the ladies. The father of one has been dating Russian Victoria’s Secret model Irina Shayk since 2010.


Gerard Piqué

Gerard PiqueGetty Images

Country: Spain

Age: 27

Sign: Aquarius

Club Team: FC Barcelona

Piqué — or as he is known in some circles, Mr. Shakira — is the pinup of the Spanish squad.

The 6-foot-4 stopper has dated the Colombian singer since 2010.

The pair share the same birthday (February 2), but the “Hips Don’t Lie” singer is 10 years his senior. They have a 1-year-old son named Milan.


Karim Ansarifard

Karim AnsarifardGetty Images

Country: Iran

Age: 24

Sign: Aries

Club Team: Persepolis

If ever there were a reason to lift sanctions against Iran, it is Ansarifard.

With his lustrous locks and million-dollar smile, the forward should consider a career as a diplomat if this soccer thing doesn’t work out.

The young star comes from a large brood, with four brothers and three sisters. No word on whether he’s single or not.


Manuel Neuer

Manuel NeuerAP

Country: Germany

Age: 28

Sign: Aries

Club Team: Bayern Munich

With strong features and pillow lips, Neuer, whose nickname is “Manu,” looks like a Hollywood leading man — think Ryan Phillippe crossed with in-his-prime Matt Damon.

But the goalkeeper isn’t just a jock.

He did the voice for Frank McCay for the German version of Disney’s “Monsters University.” And true to footballer form, he’s dating German model Kathrin Gilch.


Georgios Samaras

Georgios SamarasAP

Country: Greece

Age: 29

Sign: Pisces

Club Team: Unsigned

With his unruly beard and long hair, the lanky Samaras looks a bit like a hot Jesus.

Last month, the swarthy striker, who recently ended his contract with Glasgow Celtic, melted hearts when he carried a young Celtic fan with Down syndrome onto the field.

He is engaged to the Greek pop star Helen Foureira.


Iker Casillas

Iker CasillasGetty Images

Country: Spain

Age: 33

Sign: Taurus

Club Team: Real Madrid

It’s a well-known fact that Spain is the hottest team in the world — from Xabi Alonso to David Villa.

And they have Orlando Bloom look-alike Iker Casillas minding their net.

Unfortunately, the veteran goalie is taken. His journalist girlfriend Sara Carbonero, whom he met in 2009 while she was covering the Spanish national team, gave birth to their first child, a son, in January.


Thiago Silva

Thiago SilvaGetty Images

Country: Brazil

Age: 29

Sign: Virgo

Club Team: Paris Saint-Germain

Everyone is crowing about Silva’s teammates Neymar Jr. and Givanildo Vieira de Souza, who is known as “Hulk,” but we prefer Silva’s boyish good looks.

The defender and Rio native will be playing in front of his hometown crowd.

He is, however, in a relationship. He and girlfriend Isabele da Silva have a son, Isago.


Keisuke Honda

Keisuke HondaGetty Images

Country: Japan

Age: 27

Sign: Gemini

Club Team: AC Milan

The Osaka-born midfielder, who is known by Japanese fans as “Emperor Keisuke,” reportedly has a tattoo of Milan’s Il Diavolo mascot on his shoulder.

He’s also got dyed spiky hair and a rakish figure a la David Beckham.

But Honda is a little more low-key in his love life. Instead of finding a pinup model, he married a kindergarten teacher. The couple have one son.


Jozy Altidore

Jozy AltidoreGetty Images

Country: USA

Age: 24

Sign: Scorpio

Club Team: Sunderland

Though Landon Donovan — the heart and heartthrob of Team USA — didn’t make the squad, there are plenty of head-turners on the roster.

And Altidore is our pick.

Born in Livingston, NJ, the striker has been playing pro soccer since he was 16, has beautiful dimples and is heavily involved in philanthropy, including his own foundation for underprivileged kids.


Joe Hart

Joe HartGetty Images

Country: England

Age: 27

Sign: Aries

Club Team: Manchester City

Known as a humble guy, England’s goal-keeper has reason to have a big head.

He is the face of Hugo Boss Unlimited fragrance, posing in a dark suit with a white soccer ball under his long arms.

Unfortunately, the 6-foot-5 Englishman has a girlfriend. He’s been dating 30-year-old blond beautician, Kimberly Crew, for five years.


André ‘Dede’ Ayew

Andre AyewAP

Country: Ghana

Age: 24

Sign: Sagitarius

Club Team: Marseille

Soccer is in Ayew’s genes. Born in France, he is the son of a famous Ghanian soccer player, Abedi Pele. And the winger’s brothers both play professional ball. He is a fierce offensive weapon for the African team, but it’s his cocky smirk and swagger that make him a star off the field.

The World Cup balls have been named since the 1970 championship in Mexico. That one was called Telstar, after a satellite (and a pop song with that title by the Tornados).

This year’s official ball has been named the Brazuca which in Portuguese means Brazilian, and refers to the Brazilian way of life. Of the more than a million Brazilians who voted for a name, 78 percent picked Brazuca. Bossa Nova came in second.


The Bench

These hunks are ready to step on the field when their teammates get tired:

Olivier Giroud

Olivier GiroudEPA

Country: France

Age: 27

Sign: Libra

Club Team: Arsenal

The striker with a chiseled face hailing from the French Alps is the heartthrob of his team.

Despite being a devout Christian with a tattoo of a Latin psalm on his arm, in February the married player vaguely copped to copulating with another woman — British model Celia Kay.


Gonzalo Higuaín

Gonzalo HiguainAP

Country: Argentina

Age: 26

Sign: Sagitarius

Club Team: Napoli

Born in France, where his Argentine father played soccer, Higuaín (E-gway-een) moved to Argentina as a tot.

He shares a nickname, “El Pipita,” with his dad who earned the moniker because of his large nose.

The forward dates Madrid-based journalist Daniela Saurwald.


Mauricio Pinilla

Mauricio PinillaGetty Images

Country: Chile

Age: 30

Sign: Aquarius

Club Team: Cagliari

Heavily tattooed, the South American hunk made news in 2008, when he was hit by Luis Jiménez, the ex-captain of Chile’s national team.

The reason?

Pinilla allegedly slept with Jimenez’s wife. Pinilla is still married to model Gissella Gallardo.


Ciro Immobile

Ciro ImmobileEPA

Country: Italy

Age: 24

Sign: Pisces

Club Team: Torino

With his blond hair, Immobile stands out among his swarthy countrymen.

The 6-foot-1 striker is good-looking, but he’s also recently off the market: He married his girlfriend — and the mother of his daughter — late last month.