Top Footballers’ Wives and Girlfriends: The Most Famous WAGs in Football
A footballer’s love life is a gossip everyone wants to know and with paparazzi everywhere there is no escape.
Until the 21st century ‘WAG’ was not a familiar term but now it encapsulates the wife or girlfriend of the player. Popularised by the British press, with some of the earliest uses dating back to the World Cup 2002 in Japan and Korea.
In the month of May that year, an article in the Daily Telegraph explained that WAGs was the name given to players’ wives and girlfriends by staff at the Jumeirah Beach Club in Dubai.
The terminology was so attractive that papers subsequently embraced it and by the 2006 World Cup in Germany, its usage became widespread, appearing in the sports pages of different countries around the world.
Leanne Brown, wife of former Manchester United defender Wes Brown, has said Guardian “We have lived with the WAG stigma for so long,” “People were quick to brand me a ‘sponger’, just for being a stay-at-home mum.”
Now that you have known WAGs toots, let’s take a look at some of the famous faces seen supporting their significant others.
Famous football WAGs
The top-level footballers always tend to rub shoulders with lots of high-profile individuals. However, there are plenty of WAGs famous in their own right before becoming romantic interests of sports stars.
Victoria Beckham and David Beckham
One such star was Victoria Beckham who was a member of the popular 1990s girl band the Spice Girls before tying the knot with former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder David Beckham. Moreover, the Beckhams have ventured into the world of fashion together and have four children.
Similarly, Colombian singer Shakira had plenty of hits and awards under her belt at the time she dated Barcelona’s Gerard Pique. A 2010 romance that began on the sets of Shakira’s World Cup song ‘Waka Waka (This Time for Africa), but now sadly they have parted ways.
Another individual from the same category was ex-Girls Aloud singer Cheryl, who was married to former Arsenal and Chelsea defender Ashley Cole from 2006 until 2010.
Interestingly, the most famous WAGs in football were actually childhood sweethearts of footballers who stayed with their partners from their early days.
Antonella Roccuzzo and Lionel Messi
Nothing better than the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, who married Antonella Roccuzzo hailing from the same city as the Inter Miami captain. Since the age of five Messi and Roccuzzo have known each other and they married in 2017, having three children now.
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Coleen Rooney and Wayne Rooney
Coleen Rooney, wife of Manchester United’s top goalscorer Wayne Rooney, has been with the former striker since their teenage. The pair, who have four children together, have remained an item despite much-publicised difficulties over the years.
Georgina Rodriguez and Cristiano Ronaldo
The Argentine’s longstanding rival Cristiano Ronaldo has had quite a different story with girlfriend, Georgina Rodriguez whose profile has risen considerably since her relationship with Ronaldo became public. The dancer is now dabbling in modeling and has a daughter with Ronaldo while also being a mother figure for his three other children.
Former Playboy model and Baywatch icon Pamela Anderson’s WAG spell lasted for a while when she entered a relationship with France international Adil Rami, but they reportedly split in late 2018.
World Cup winner Bastian Schweinsteiger married tennis star Ana Ivanovic, while former Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos is married to television presenter Pilar Rubio. Real Betis midfielder Isco is in a relationship with Spanish actress Sara Salamo, whose credits include the film Wild Oats, starring Demi Moore and Jessica Lange, while the couple have two kids together.
Former Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea is married to singer Edurne Garcia, who represented Spain in the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest. While Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards is the partner of Besiktas player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Ana Lewandowska and Robert Lewandowski
Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski is married to Ana Lewandowska, who has represented Poland in World, European, and national karate championships, while Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller also married a sportswoman in the form of equestrian Lisa Trede.
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