David Beckham wears an Argentina shirt on emotional football tour


November 10, 2015

David Beckham showed himself to be a true legend when he arrived unannounced in one of Buenos Aires' poorest neighbourhoods and began playing football with local youngsters. In a winning touch, the sports hero was wearing an Argentine football shirt.

The father of four – who was famously given a red card during a match against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup – delighted locals in the Villa 1-11-14 favela with the appearance.

Twitter users described him as "a great guy", " humble", "caring" and reported that he had spoken Spanish with the people he met.

On Instagram, David himself wrote: "Smiles all around. The passion of these kids and people for the game in the country is truly amazing. #Love of the game."

For part of the match he also wore a T-shirt given him by local team Boca. His game on a concrete pitch overlooked by a huge mural of Pope Francis, who was born in the city, is part of David's global football tour around seven continents. The world tour is to promote his charity work with UNICEF.

He had travelled from Djibouti in the Horn of Africa, where he visited a refugee camp. The former England football captain bonded with families at the Ali Addeh camp, which is home to over 10,000 refugees from Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia. UNICEF is working to provide life-saving vaccines to children in the camp.

"This is the first time I have visited a refugee camp," said David, who launched the 7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund earlier this year.

"It's shocking to see how children's lives can be turned upside down as a result of conflict and violence and as a father it breaks my heart to see children living in such difficult circumstances."

"As a father it breaks my heart to see children living in such difficult circumstances," he added

"All children, no matter where they live, deserve a fair chance in life," he said. "With the support of my Fund, UNICEF is making sure that children in Djibouti, including child refugees, get the vital vaccinations and medical care they need to protect them from preventable diseases so they can grow up healthy and strong."

Before playing his charity match in Djibouti, the former Manchester United star had to clear a herd of goats off the makeshift football pitch.

David is on a mission to complete seven charity matches in seven different continents; his trip will culminate with an emotional return to Old Trafford on Saturday 14 November where he will captain Great Britain XI against the Rest of the World, led by Zinedine Zidane

The 40-year-old's first match was in Papua New Guinea, where he first had to make a ball followed by a second game in Nepal.

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