WITH their perfect physiques, sports stars are dream fodder for underwear brands.
And with an army of fans, their popularity could certainly influence punters to shell out on some expensive briefs.
Son Heung-Min is the latest sports star to model for Calvin KleinCredit: Calvin Klein
Recent pants purveyor Son Heung-Min showed off his chiselled abs for a Calvin Klein ad this week.
And he’s not the first athlete to model drawers…
Cristiano Ronaldo
The Man Utd legend, 37, may not be getting a game for his club, but at least he has his empire and fashion label to fall back on.
Incredibly, his clothing line CR7 is worth a staggering £58million, and it sells everything from shoes to jeans to underwear.
Ronaldo even took part in a photoshoot to show off some of the collection.
Cristiano Ronaldo shows off his own CR7 rangeRafael Nadal
As a brand ambassador for Emporio Armani, tennis god Rafael Nadal took his role very seriously – judging by these smouldering snaps.
In 2011, Rafael Nadal became brand ambassador for Emporio ArmaniCredit: Handout
Most recently, Tommy Hilfiger used Nadal to show off their pantsCredit: Handout
The Spaniard, 36, sizzled in a series of moody ads in 2011 for their autumn-winter collection.
Amusingly, it was unveiled on a 20ft billboard in New York.
Most recently, Tommy Hilfiger has used Nadal to model their pants.
David Beckham
Before Nadal got the job, England legend Beckham, now 47, was the man Emporio Armani wanted to peddle their pants in 2007.
They paid him handsomely too – a reported £20million for a three-year deal.
In 2012, Beckham repeated the feat with H&M to release his own bodywear collection.
Emporio Armani capitalised on David Beckham’s popularity in 2007Credit: Handout
H&M and David Beckham teamed up for a range in 2012Credit: HandoutNeymar
Last year, Brazilian forward Neymar teamed up with high-street retailer Superdry to model its 100 per cent organic cotton underwear.
It all ties in neatly with his Instituto Projeto, a non-profit foundation set up to create opportunities for socially vulnerable families in the Praia Grande area, where Neymar grew up.
Superdry have offered their own support to the organisation, and with the smalls selling at £24.99 a percentage of the sale is donated.
Neymar’s Superdry collaboration benefitted his own charityCredit: Superdry / BEEMMagdalena Neuner
The stunning German biathlete found a cunning way to grab our attention when she retired.
In 2013 she posed for Mey underwear in her native country and showed off her incredible pins.
It really left us hoping for a little bit more, but it was the only ad she would do for the underwear giant.
In 2013, biathlete Magdalena Neuner did a lingerie shoot for Mey Underwear after retiringCredit: MeyFreddie Ljungberg
Arsenal legend was as famous in North London for his goals as he was for this Calvin Klein ad in the 2000s.
His image adorned billboards all over the world, including in the US, with Amerincans not having a clue he was a professional footballer.
Freddie opened the door for tennis stars Fernando Verdasco and Janko Tipsarevic to model for Calvin Klein too.
Footballer Freddie Ljungberg’s Calvin Klein Advert is stuff of legendCredit: Advertising ArchiveGisela Dulko
Argentinian tennis player Gisela was married to footballer Fernando Gago when she did this shoot, so it’s a wonder why they didn’t do an underwear ad together.
But in 2012, she shot a 𝑠e𝑥y photoshoot for Selu Lingerie which really showed off the charms that had Gago presumably gaga.
She had, at that point, quit the game to pursue a modelling career.
Today, she is a mum of three and a commentator for ESPN.
Gisela Dulko poses for Selu UnderwearCredit: SeluItalian football team
Those Italian footballers normally have all the luck when it comes to fashion.
If the world’s leading designers aren’t designing suits for the national team before they fly off to a World Cup, then they’re designing their pants too.
The Azzuri, represented by the likes of Fabio Cannavaro, Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo, posed for Dolce & Gabbana in this revealing ad in 2006.
It started off a chain of similar ads for Italy that seem to appear prior to their big tournaments.
The Italian national team look good in their Dolce & Gabbana pantsCredit: Dolce & GabbanaAnsu Fati
Barcelona wonderkid Fati is the latest name to try his hand at underwear modelling.
Back in April, the teenage forward – who is sponsored by Nike – took part in a photoshoot for their spring and summer collection.
Underwear was featured, although Fati isn’t quite as chiselled as his contemporaries.
Still, as their face he is to be respected.
Ansu Fati shows off Nike’s underwear rangeCredit: Nike