President Xi Jinping (R) meets with British Prime Minister David Cameron in Beijing, Dec 2, 2013. [Photo/Xinhua]

England team

In December 2013, during his official visit to China, UK's then-prime minister David Cameron presented Xi a jersey signed by all the players of the England soccer team.

Xi and Cameron pose for a selfie with Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero at the club's City Football Academy. [Photo from the official Twitter account of Manchester City Football Club]

Manchester City

In October 2015, during his state visit to the UK, Xi visited the Manchester City Football Academy with David Cameron.

The two countries' leaders visited an exhibition of soccer history, watched players' training and match data analysis system of the Manchester City Football Club. Representatives of the club presented a team jersey to Xi.

Manchester City star Sergio Aguero took a selfie with Xi and Cameron and posted it on the social network, saying "Thank you for the selfie, President Xi".

Martin Winterkorn, then-CEO of German carmaker Volkswagen, presents Xi with a VfL Wolfsburg jersey signed by the Bundesliga club's players during Xi's visit to Germany, in Berlin, March 29, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

VfL Wolfsburg

In March 29, 2014, Xi took time out from his first state visit to Europe to watch the Sino-German Junior Football Friendship Match in Berlin Stadium, where Martin Winterkorn gave Xi a jersey of German Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg signed by the players. Xi was accompanied by his wife Peng Liyuan.

Xi told a group of young Chinese soccer players on an exchange program in Germany that he hoped that China's youth will grow into outstanding players, even become international stars.

He told the children that the training in Germany would influence their lives. "(It) will guide the development of China's youth soccer and make more youngsters devoted to soccer," Xi said.