Celebs Who Love Soccer

From Kobe to Rihanna, the list is long and growing.

Kobe Bryant - The NBA great has a divine touch on the court, and he can thank the man upstairs for at least some of his talent. Bryant was raised Roman Catholic and even lived in the Eternal City, Rome, when he was young.(Photo: Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

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Celebs Who Love Soccer - More Americans than ever are watching the World Cup — could it be a love of the sport? Or is it that they're following the lead of celebrities, from Kobe to Snoop, who have been soccer fans for years? If you're having trouble picking a favorite team, go for one that already has a famous following.  (Photo: Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Snoop Doesn't Discriminate  - Snoop Dogg became a soccer fan by accident. A decade ago while he was on a European tour, his Madden video game CD got scratched. The store was out of more, so he settled for FIFA. The rapper was hooked and went from studying the sport on the game to watching matches. Although Snoop has been photographed in jerseys from just about every European team, his favorite players are Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), whose teams have a long-standing rivalry and who the press have said can't stand each other. Snoop is also a spokesperson for FIFA Soccer 13 video game and is showing his patriotism this World Cup, even releasing video messages to cheer on the U.S. (Photo: WENN)

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Snoop Doesn't Discriminate  - Snoop Dogg became a soccer fan by accident. A decade ago while he was on a European tour, his Madden video game CD got scratched. The store was out of more, so he settled for FIFA. The rapper was hooked and went from studying the sport on the game to watching matches. Although Snoop has been photographed in jerseys from just about every European team, his favorite players are Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), whose teams have a long-standing rivalry and who the press have said can't stand each other. Snoop is also a spokesperson for FIFA Soccer 13 video game and is showing his patriotism this World Cup, even releasing video messages to cheer on the U.S. (Photo: WENN)

Rih Rih and Ronaldo - Rihanna loves Ronaldo (she has tweeted more than once about his hotness) and Ronaldo loves Rihanna (he went to her concert last year and posted lots of pics of them together being super attractive backstage). So there's a good chance that the singer is all in for Portugal, giving her friend his first trophy in the World Cup.  (Photo: Cristiano Ronaldo via twitter)

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Rih Rih and Ronaldo - Rihanna loves Ronaldo (she has tweeted more than once about his hotness) and Ronaldo loves Rihanna (he went to her concert last year and posted lots of pics of them together being super attractive backstage). So there's a good chance that the singer is all in for Portugal, giving her friend his first trophy in the World Cup.  (Photo: Cristiano Ronaldo via twitter)

Kobe Bryant: August 23 - The NBA all-star celebrates his 35th birthday. (Photo: Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Hublot)

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Kobe's Family Ties - NBA fans may have been shocked to see Kobe sitting in the stands during the Spain/Netherlands World Cup game. But he readily admits that soccer is his favorite sport to watch. The AC Milan fan is predicting that the final game will be Brazil against Argentina. "I have to go with my Nike family," he told reporters, explaining why he's cheering for Neymar's Brazil squad over his friend Argentinian Lionel Messi.  (Photo: Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Hublot)

Shakira: For Love or Country?  - Shakira met Spain soccer star Gerard Pique at the 2010 World Cup. Four years later, they are a ridiculously hot and in shape couple with a son. So it seems obvious that she'd be rooting for Spain in Brazil — except her native Colombia is the underdog favorite, in their first World Cup since 1998. Shakira isn't saying anything about her allegiances, but she did admit that she is staying away from Pique during the month-long tournament so she won't be a "distraction."  (Photo: Europa Press/Europa Press via Getty Images)

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Shakira: For Love or Country?  - Shakira met Spain soccer star Gerard Pique at the 2010 World Cup. Four years later, they are a ridiculously hot and in shape couple with a son. So it seems obvious that she'd be rooting for Spain in Brazil — except her native Colombia is the underdog favorite, in their first World Cup since 1998. Shakira isn't saying anything about her allegiances, but she did admit that she is staying away from Pique during the month-long tournament so she won't be a "distraction."  (Photo: Europa Press/Europa Press via Getty Images)

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Naomi Gets Patriotic - Most people are content to cheer and tweet, but Naomi Campbell went bigger — and barer — to show her support. The day of England's first World Cup game, Campbell posted a photo on Instagram of herself wearing the British flag and a bathing suit. Her team lost, but not for her lack of effort. (Photo: Naomi Campbell via Instagram)

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Naomi Gets Patriotic - Most people are content to cheer and tweet, but Naomi Campbell went bigger — and barer — to show her support. The day of England's first World Cup game, Campbell posted a photo on Instagram of herself wearing the British flag and a bathing suit. Her team lost, but not for her lack of effort. (Photo: Naomi Campbell via Instagram)

LeBron to Liverpool: I Know Kanye West  - LeBron James's decision in 2011 to become a minority owner of British team FC Liverpool may have been a business move, but he's bringing his own form of personal motivation for the players. James promised the team a weekend in Vegas including a concert with Kanye West if they won the league last season. They didn't...but enough Liverpool players are in the World Cup (for Uruguay and England) that James may still have a stake in a winning team.  (Photo: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

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LeBron to Liverpool: I Know Kanye West  - LeBron James's decision in 2011 to become a minority owner of British team FC Liverpool may have been a business move, but he's bringing his own form of personal motivation for the players. James promised the team a weekend in Vegas including a concert with Kanye West if they won the league last season. They didn't...but enough Liverpool players are in the World Cup (for Uruguay and England) that James may still have a stake in a winning team.  (Photo: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Ice Cube Means Business - Ice Cube made sure that everyone knew his World Cup pick when he appeared in the I Believe That We Will Win commercial. While the other stars, from Jon Hamm to Whoopi Goldberg, gently voiced their support for the U.S. team, Cube nearly shouted his lines. Don't be scared, he's just that serious. (Photo: Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images)

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Ice Cube Means Business - Ice Cube made sure that everyone knew his World Cup pick when he appeared in the I Believe That We Will Win commercial. While the other stars, from Jon Hamm to Whoopi Goldberg, gently voiced their support for the U.S. team, Cube nearly shouted his lines. Don't be scared, he's just that serious. (Photo: Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images)

Spike Lee - Director and sports fan Spike Lee enjoyed day six of the U.S. Open on Aug. 31.(Photo: Chris Trotman/Getty Images for the USTA)

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When Spike Lee's Not at Madison Square Garden - Spike Lee has been cheating on the Knicks for a while. First, he was a season ticket holder for Mario Balotelli's old team, Inter Milan, and now his favorite team is England's FC Arsenal — in 2011, he appeared in a Nike-produced video to celebrate the club's 125th anniversary. Because Lee has to be super involved in whatever he believes in, he even sat on a FIFA Committee to try to get the World Cup brought to the U.S. Now that Qatar could lose the 2022 matches, he may get his wish.     (Photo: Chris Trotman/Getty Images for the USTA)

Photo By Photo: Chris Trotman/Getty Images for the USTA

Kevin Hart's Athletic Hopes - In case Kevin Hart's comedy career ever falls flat, he's well on his way to being a soccer star. His credentials: He loves top-ranked British team Manchester City so he knows what to aim for on the field, he dramatically scored a goal against their goalie, Joe Hart — no relation, and some of soccer's biggest stars are pint-sized like he is.   (Photo: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

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Kevin Hart's Athletic Hopes - In case Kevin Hart's comedy career ever falls flat, he's well on his way to being a soccer star. His credentials: He loves top-ranked British team Manchester City so he knows what to aim for on the field, he dramatically scored a goal against their goalie, Joe Hart — no relation, and some of soccer's biggest stars are pint-sized like he is.   (Photo: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

Ride Out - After returning from Spain, Drake wears a Lionel Messi FC Barcelona soccer jersey at the Pearson International Airport in his Toronto hometown. (Photo: Fernandez Chiang / Splash News)

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Drake Spreads the Love - Drake was doing more than catching feelings for Rihanna recently — during a European tour he was also falling in love with soccer. The Canadian cashed in on his obsession with an endorsement with EA Sports/FIFA. And he also got to add a few notches to his "I'm cool" belt by hanging with stars Mario Balotelli, England's Ashley Cole and the Ivory Coast's Drogba. Favorite team? Drake is a man of many, too sensitive to hurt the feelings of his friends, so he cheers for all of them.   (Photo: Fernandez Chiang / Splash News)