Access Counts Down The Sexiest Soccer Stars

They called the movie ?Bend It Like Beckham? for a reason ? to honor David Beckham, one of the sexiest soccer player’s on the planet.

And it is thanks to Beckham and his fellow studly soccer stars, that ESPN?s World Cup ratings are up in a big way, especially with female viewers.

So, Access goes undercover with the World Cup Wonder Boys to see who has the best bods and the most sensational styles.

?These are extraordinary hunks by most women’s standards,? said Eric Wilson, the style writer for the New York Times. ?They have sex appeal to people that are watching beyond what they’re doing on the field.?

The ad game is on to grab soccer?s high-scoring sex appeal, and it?s not just the Gatorade, Adidas and Nikes of the world who want in.

You can add to that the top fashion houses. Armani cast Brazil?s Kaka in its ads and Dolce & Gabbana has its designs on Italy on and off the field with a provocative underwear campaign.

?These guys are objects of desire because they’re rich, talented, competent, and they’re happy to have a good time,? said Gary Belsky, executive editor of ESPN The Magazine.

So, even if knowing the score isn?t your thing, we?re here to help you focus on what?s most important! Access counts down the top 10 world cup wonder boys.

At #10, we have Cristiano Ronaldo.

?Ronaldo is Portugal?s sexiest player, and he know it,? Gary told us. ?He loves to play to the camera.?

Pavel Nedved is our pick for #9.

?What people like about him is that he’s a superstar but has the work ethic of a truck driver,? Gary said.

At #8? Andriy Shevchenko of the Ukraine.

?He’s a great talent, dating a model, and he pretty much has everything if you are a 20-something guy,? Gary said.

France comes in at #7 with Zinedine Zidane.

?He’s got a certain kind of magnetism and credibility that makes him the thinking women’s choice for sexiest soccer star,? Gary said.

Raul Gonzalez of Spain is our pick for #6.

?He’s been battling serious knee injuries, and he is playing for the team out of a sense of patriotism, and in Spain, great talent and patriotism equals sexy,? Gary told us.

What about a sexy German? That?s Michael Ballack at #5.

?If you are going to talk abut a sexy German you are going to talk abut Micheal Ballack,? Gary said. ?He’s the team captain. He’s a phenom player.?

We head south for #4, with Luca Toni of Italy.

?If you know how to be an Italian man and also happen to be the best soccer player in world, you are going to come off as incredibly sexy,? Gary said.

The USA is represented by Landon Donovan at #3.

?America needs an American soccer star and Landon is closest,? Gary told Access. ?He’s a good-looking guy and good at soccer makes him the best candidate to be the Beckham of the U.S.?

And at the next to top spot? Ronaldhino!

?Arguably the best player in the world, and quite frankly, if you are the best at anything that just makes you sexy,? Gary laughed.

And yes, the shrewd fan knows there?s only one man worthy of the top spot.

David Beckham.

?As a soccer sex star, Beckham is number one,? Gary explained. ?He’s rich, he’s handsome, and it doesn’t hurt he’s married to Posh Spice. He’s just the ultimate in sport-marketing sex appeal.?

Score!