Footballer arm candy

Before you watch the final, have a look at these hot celebrity couples.

The Euro Cup 2012 is drawing to a close with Spain and Italy competing for the trophy today. While we all have our favourites, this piece is dedicated to their better halves. If you thought David and Victoria Beckham were the ‘it’ couple of football, take a look at these sizzling duos that are steaming up the football scene with their chemistry and extravagant lifestyles. Here is The Express Tribune’s list of the brawn of football that sizzles on and off the field with equally scrumptious partners.

Cesc Fabregas - Daniella Semaan 

Spanish footballer Cesc Fabregas’ new girlfriend, Daniella Semaan is the ex-wife of a millionaire. Sources close to Fabregas unveiled that he seems so much happier and relaxed around the stunning Lebanese 37-year-old mother of two rather than his previous girlfriend. The football player even has a new tattoo featuring a star with the letter ‘D’ inside his left arm which is accompanied with several Arabic words. It was revealed that the meaning of the inked verses is My Life D Forever. Fabregas and Semaan met each other around two years ago at Japanese restaurant Nozomi in London.

Iker Casillas - Sara Carbonero

Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas and 28-year-old reporter Sara Carbonero have been dating for three years and according to sources, the Real Madrid captain has already proposed several times. The couple met during the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa. Casillas will be defending his 2008 title with Spain, while Carbonero will be covering the event for the private Spanish television channel Telecinco. The couple plans to tie the knot after the Euro Cup 2012.

Mario Balotelli — Raffaella Fico 

Italian footballer Mario Balotelli’s current girlfriend is 23-year-old Italian model, showgirl, actor and TV presenter Raffaella Fico. The couple met in May 2011 at the wrap party for Italy’s “I’m A Celebrity”style series, L’Isola dei ­Famosi. Fico and Balotelli’s sister Abigail Barwuah were both contestants. Fico says that at first she had no idea who Mario was because she isn’t a football fan.

Leonardo Bonucci – Martina  Maccari

Bari defender Leonardo Bonucci married his long-time girlfriend Martina Maccari. Martina is an ex-model, who is now planning to pursue a career in journalism and travel the world with her husband. Oddly enough, there are no photoshoot pictures of Maccari available on the internet.

Gerard Pique - Shakira 

The 35-year-old Columbian singer Shakira, and Spanish footballer Gerard Pique met two years ago while shooting the video of Shakira’s song “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” – the official track of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, which was won by Spain. Rumours of the singer dating the FC Barcelona player started after Pique — who is 10 years younger than Shakira — posted pictures of them partying together during his birthday in February 2011. She was there to cheer on her footballer beau as he and his Spanish teammates romped to victory over Croatia and the Republic of Ireland.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 1^st, 2012.