Beckham raises cheer for Philippines typhoon survivors – but not everyone recognises him

Football superstar David Beckham visited the Philippines on Thursday to give comfort to survivors of the Asian country’s deadliest ever typhoon – although not everyone was sure of his identity.

Hundreds of survivors of Super Typhoon Haiyan rushed out of their tent shelters to welcome the global celebrity, who is nevertheless unfamiliar to many citizens of the Philippines, where basketball rather than soccer is king.

“He’s so handsome. I heard he plays for the Azkals,” gushed mother-of-four Darilyn Bascug, referring to the Philippines’ national football team.

The 38-year-old ex-England international, who ended his illustrious career last year, is on his second visit to the Philippines in his role as a “goodwill ambassador” for the UN Children’s Fund.

He flew by private plane Thursday to Tacloban, one of the areas worst-hit by Haiyan which left about 8,000 people dead or missing across the central Philippines in November last year.