By Arthur Martin
She never misses the chance for a spot of self-publicity.
And as hundreds of millions around the world watched the World Cup final on TV, Rihanna’s attention-seeking antics went into overdrive.
During the game the 26-year-old pop star lifted her T-shirt to reveal a black leather bra in front of 75000 football fans in the stadium in Brazil.
Later, the Barbados-born star danced with delight after German midfielder Mesut Ozil passed her his football shirt.
Rihanna – believed to have been at the final as a guest of Budweiser, the US beer company which she endorses and which was an official sponsor of the tournament – also posed for pictures alongside some of the players.
She even held the 18-carat gold World Cup trophy, contravening football etiquette. Only the winners of the tournament and heads of state are supposed to be allowed to touch the trophy.
But football’s governing body FIFA may have relaxed the rule because the wives, girlfriends and children of the German players also posed for pictures holding it.
Rihanna posted pictures of herself with the cup and the players on Twitter for her 36 million followers to see.
In one photo, she holds the World Cup while German players Lucas Podolski and Bastian Schweinsteiger kiss her on either cheek.
She wrote: “They brought me the cup!!! I love these guys!!! Congratulations!!!! I touched the cup, held the cup, kissed the cup, took a selfie wit the cup!!!”
In another she poses alongside Mario Gotze, who became an overnight hero in Germany at the age of 22 after scoring the winning goal.
Yet another shows her with British chef Jamie Oliver, and when she first arrived in Brazil she made sure to be pictured with the country’s footballing legend Pele, 73.
Before the game Rihanna announced on Twitter that she would be supporting Germany by posing in the German colours. And when Germany beat Argentina to lift the cup, she wrote: “Congrats to my German boyz! This was the most epic experience of my entire life! You guys made me so proud to be here.”
However, her loyalties were not always with the German team. Throughout the tournament she repeatedly changed her allegiance, posing in the colours of Holland, Brazil, America and Belgium.
Her behaviour divided opinion on internet message boards.
On one forum a critic called Jazz wrote: “Why would the German players give her the trophy and be kissing her as if she had won it? How did she manage to make it all about her and they allow it?”
But another said: “Love her or hate her, she certainly seems to be loving life, travelling the world, partying with the rich and famous. I say go girl! You only live once.” – Daily Mail