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Abid Rahman

With the World Cup a matter of days away, we are being bombarded with all things soccer-related, no matter how tenuous. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that (unless you hate soccer, of course).
Soccer and fashion were two things that were once at odds, but thanks to the likes of England star David Beckham and Japan’s dynamo midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata, they are now much more simpatico.
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As the opening match in Moscow creeps ever closer, we take a look at five stylish players to look out for. These guys may not end up winning the ultimate prize on the pitch, but you can bet they’ll be looking like champions off it.
Sadly, we didn’t include Spanish right back and fashion follower Hector Bellerin, as poor Hector didn’t make Spain’s World Cup squad, while menswear aficionados around the globe will be softly weeping that Italy didn’t even qualify.

1. Neymar, Brazil
Of course we have to start with Neymar. Messi might be the best player in the world, and Cristiano Ronaldo the most vain, but of all the players at this World Cup, Neymar is peerless when it comes to fashion.

As with his playing style, Neymar isn’t afraid of making bold and audacious choices when it comes to clothes. The Paris Saint-Germain star has a weakness for Balmain and Louis Vuitton. Expect him to make headlines in the fashion press as well as the sports pages this summer.

2. Mesut Özil, Germany
The midfield maestro, who plays his club soccer for Arsenal, is a big fan of street wear and has his own fashion label, conveniently named after himself.

“Fashion is my passion. With my own fashion collection, I’ll bring my favourite style to the streets,” says Mesut on his website. A casual glance at his social media shows Ozil has a fondness for Kanye West’s Yeezy label, Off-White and soccer players’ favourite Balmain.

3. Keisuke Honda, Japan
Following in the footsteps of fashion aficionado Nakata was always a tall order, but Honda has done himself proud over the years with his bleached hair and penchant for wearing two wristwatches.

Favouring tailored Italian suits and more often than not sporting sunglasses, Honda’s style is the opposite of the “look at me” style most modern footballers are guilty of.

4. Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal
CR7 is pushing 33 and this might be his last World Cup, so expect the living legend to bust a lung to win the only trophy missing from his collection. Off the pitch, Cristiano, never shy of attention, will be trying to peddle his signature denim collection, underwear, fragrance and all manner of other things that bear his name.

His personal style, however, is a little more in the luxe category, with loud and brash brands Gucci and Philipp Plein among his favourites.

5. Paul Pogba, France
For Pogba, the World Cup will either be a huge success or a crippling failure; there’s no middle ground for the Manchester United midfielder, who is all about extremes. From his ever changing haircuts (expect a new one for every game) to his on-pitch dabbing, Pogba is the ultimate show-off.
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Away from soccer, Pogba is another Balmain devotee, although he is fond of Givenchy and Balenciaga too.


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epa06375921 A handout photo made available by the l'Equipe Presse Office of Real Madrid's Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo posing with his trophy after receiving the 62nd Ballon d'Or award in Paris, France, 07 December 2017. EPA-EFE/FAUGERE FRANCK HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES

FB7XF1 Zurich, Switzerland. 11th Jan, 2016. PAUL POGBA poses for photos on the red carpet during arrivals for the 2015 FIFA Ballon DOR Gala at Kongresshaus in Zurich. Credit: Marcio Machado/ZUMA Wire/Alamy Live News

D8XJ12 Keisuke Honda (JPN), JUNE 5, 2013 - Football / Soccer : Keisuke Honda attends press conference of FIFA World Cup Brazil at Saitama pref 5 Jun 2013. (Photo by Motoo Naka/AFLO)

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(FILES) In this file photo taken on May 8, 2018 Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian forward Neymar Jr attends the French Cup final football match between Les Herbiers and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outside Paris. Thomas has entered the 2019 edition of both the Petit Larousse and le Petit Robert, the two rival French dictionnaries, AFP reports on May 14, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE

In this photo released by the Brazilian Football Confederation, Brazil's soccer player Neymar arrives to the Granja Comary training center in Teresopolis, Brazil, Monday, May 21, 2018. (Lucas Figueiredo/CBF via AP)

epa06735511 A handout photo made available by the Turkish Presidential Press Office shows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) posing with Arsenal's soccer player Mesut Ozil (L) presenting him a jesery of his after their meeting in London, Brritain, 13 May 2018. Erdogan is on a three-days visit to Britain. Turkish President Erdogan announced on 18 April 2018 that Turkey will hold snap elections on 24 June 2018. The presidential and parliamentary elections were scheduled to be held in November 2019, but government has decided the change the date following the recommendation of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli. EPA-EFE/TURKISH PRESIDENTAL PRESS OFFICE HANDOUT HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES

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Fashion & Beauty

Paul Pogba, Mesut Özil and Keisuke Honda, and top Brazilian and Portuguese stars are following a trail blazed by England star David Beckham and Japan midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata. So which are their favourite fashion labels?


Neymar, Ronaldo, Paul Pogba, Mesut Özil and Keisuke Honda are following a trail blazed by England star David Beckham and Japan midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata. So which are their favourite fashion labels?


Fifa World Cup 2018

Neymar