Obama plays host to Beckham and mates

Beckham and his fellow players from the Los Angeles Galaxy team were making the visit as part of celebrations for winning their third Major League Soccer Championship.

The president raised a laugh when he praised the footballer, saying it’s a “rare man who can be that tough on the field and also have his own line of underwear.”

And he joked that the star-studded team, led by Beckham, midfielder Landon Donovan and forward Robbie Keane, were the “Miami Heat of soccer.”

Obama quipped to the 37-year-old Beckham that half of his teammates “could be his kids”, adding: “We’re getting old, David.”

But the president said the footballer, who modelled his own underwear range for H&M earlier this year, was “holding up better than me.”

The team were shown around the White House and Mr Obama posed for photographs, holding up a Beckham shirt. Young football fans were also welcomed to the presidential home for a questions and answer session with the team.

Last year, the former England captain was among the guests at a formal reception in London the president and his wife Michelle hosted at the US Embassy for the Queen during their state visit to the UK.