FOOTBALLERS may refer to partners as their better halves but many do have Wags that demand more of the spotlight.
Even one of the most recognisable players on the planet, David Beckham, was less of a star than Posh Spice Victoria when the pair started going out.
The latest footy ace to hook up with a more famous music star was Rotherham defender Angus MacDonald, 28, who partnered up with 32-year-old former X Factor winner Alexandra Burke.
But the pair – who were first spotted together at Wimbledon last year – called it quits after 18 months this week, with the singer wiping her Instagram clean of her ex-beau.
SunSport takes a look at some of the footballers, past and present, who have coupled up with bigger names.
David and Victoria Beckham
Posh and Becks first met in 1997 when the Manchester United ace invited the Spice Girls superstar to a game.
Back then Becks had only just been given his famous No7 shirt while Victoria Adams was at the height of her fame with the pop group after they released Spice, which became the biggest-selling album of the year in the US.
Gerard Pique and Shakira
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique, 33, met long-time partner Shakira, 43, on the set of her Waka Waka music video, the official song for the 2010 World Cup which Pique went on to win with Spain.
Despite landing virtually all of football’s biggest prizes, Pique is not the largest name in his household as his pop star Wag – who he shares kids Milan, 7, and Sasha, 5, with – boasts 68.8million Instagram followers to his 18.4m.
Cameron McGeehan and Tiffany Watson
Cameron McGeehan thought his Chelsea glory days were over after being released by the Blues aged 16 – until he scored off the field in West London.
The 25-year-old midfielder was bought for £80,000 aged just TEN but now plays in Belgium and is dating Made in Chelsea star Tiffany Watson, 26.
Ashley Cole and Cheryl Tweedy
Former Chelsea and Arsenal ace Ashley Cole met Girls Aloud pop star Cheryl Tweedy in 2004 before tying the knot two years later.
The left-back was less of a public superstar than the former X Factor judge whose tough time in the wake of his love rat ways – which caused their 2010 divorce – pulled on the nation’s heart strings.
Adil Rami and Pamela Anderson
French footballer Adil Rami reportedly had sex TWELVE times a night with his more famous ex Pamela Anderson.
The former AC Milan and Marseille ace, 34, endured a public break-up with 53-year-old Anderson in 2019 – dashing his hopes of a career swansong in LA.
Jamie and Louise Redknapp
Ex-Liverpool star Jamie Redknapp, son of boss Harry, married pop star Louise – famous for her time with Eternal – in 1998.
Arguably Redknapp was punching above his weight as his stunning ex-wife – the couple sadly divorced in 2017 – was named the Sexiest Woman in the World by readers of Sky Magazine in 1997.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Perrie Edwards
Liverpool ace Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 27, is happily coupled up with Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards, 27, and the pair live together in a stunning pad.
The former Arsenal star began dating his well-known girlfriend in 2017 after she broke up with Zayn Malik in 2015 and the footballer’s popularity is dwarfed by the millions of ‘Mixers’ that passionately support Perrie’s band.
Victor Lindelof and Maja Nilsson
Manchester United’s 26-year-old defender Victor Lindelof married Swedish influencer Maja Nilsson in 2018 before starring in the World Cup.
Maja, 26, is a famous name in her own right through her work in marketing and podcast Livet På Läktaren (Life on the Stands).
David De Gea and Edurne
United shot-stopper David De Gea bagged himself a keeper by marrying Spanish singer Edurne in 2010.
The former Eurovision Song Contest 2015 participant rose to fame in 2005 on TV in Spain and has 1.5m Instagram followers.
Scott Sinclair and Helen Flanagan
Preston footballer Scott Sinclair, 31, first started dating Coronation Street actress Helen Flanagan in 2009 when he was on the books of Manchester City.
The former Celtic winger has often played second fiddle to fiancee Helen -with whom he shares two kids with another on the way – who finished seventh on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2012.
Bastian Schweinsteiger and Ana Ivanovic
German legend and former Red Devil Bastian Schweinsteiger, 36, got involved in some mixed doubles when he started seeing Serbian tennis pro Ana Ivanovic, 32.
The sporting super couple married in 2016 and the former women’s world No1 reeled in nearly £12million of prize money on court before retiring and giving birth to the pair’s two children.
Peter Crouch and Abbey Clancy
Ex-England striker Peter Crouch, 39, met wife Abbey Clancy, 34, in 2005 before the couple said ‘I Do’ in 2011 and went on to have four kids.
The 6ft 7in former Liverpool, Tottenham and Stoke forward’s partner is a famous model who came second in Britain’s Next Top Model in 2006, was a member of girl band Genie Queen and won Strictly Come Dancing in 2013.
