Victoria Beckham, Shakira, Georgina Rodríguez … In time for the World Cup, a look at the wives and girlfriends of soccer players who have long stolen the spotlight from the beautiful game

By Carolina de Armas and Ann Schneider

The Spice Girls’ requirements for any prospective lover were famously extensive—and perhaps a touch excessive. “Forget my past.” Sure. “Make it fast.” No problem. “Get with my friends.” Excuse me? David Beckham’s list for Posh was considerably more relaxed. Possessing any prior knowledge of, or even a remote interest in, soccer? Entirely optional.

As a young Victoria Beckham candidly told Marie Claire UK in early 2000, “I do go to football sometimes, but I don’t know the offside rule or free kicks—or corner kicks, or whatever they’re called.” The admission came as she was settling into life as the nation’s most scrutinized soccer spouse, having married David in an extravagant July 1999 wedding. And just like that, a READ ON