Named one of “Teen People’s Sexiest Guys Ever”, the Japanese athlete looks back on becoming one of Asia’s first superstar footballers

In the 2000s, Hidetoshi Nakata was one of the hottest players in soccer, on and off the field.

Now retired, the Japanese soccer star, 47, was one of his country’s most promising players when he joined Italian side Perugia in 1998. Nakata was 19 when he moved to Europe to play in the competitive Italian soccer league Serie A. Over next decade, he became one of the most popular players to come from an Asian country. With three Ballon d’Or nominations and sponsorships with brands such as Nike and Calvin Klein, Nakata was a superstar at home and abroad.

Nakata’s marketability and impact on Japanese participation in football earned comparisons to David Beckhamhas become famous in England. Looking back on his career for the 20th anniversary of Teen peoples sexiest guys ever Nakata tells PEOPLE he was well aware that fans likened him to Beckham, 49.

“But basically I don’t care what people say, because what people say is not what I believe,” says the former midfielder. “People can talk good about me and bad about me – whatever.”

The pair never met on the pitch for a professional match. But their teams at the time – Manchester United and Parma FC – played an exhibition in 2002, and the two have remained friendly over the years.

“Even today, when (David) comes to Japan, we meet sometimes,” Nakata reveals. “The good thing about football is that there are no boundaries. Everyone can speak different languages ​​and we become friends.”

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Nakata doesn’t use social media today because he doesn’t like to see people talking about him, but he admits that when he was a young professional athlete he was more “naive.”

“I listened to what people said. I was under a lot of pressure, and I really struggled with dealing with my emotions,” he reveals.

The athlete continues, “With time you know how to deal with pressure and emotions that you have. So I think I had enough experience to keep my mind at peace.”

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The spotlight remained on him until his early retirement at the age of 29, cutting short his contract with Italian club Fiorentina. He stepped away from the world of football but remained involved in fashion and launched a line of sake, the Japan Craft Sake Company.

Asked if he misses competing on the field, Nakata says: “Well, if I say no, maybe it’s a lie. But I have a different kind of passion and emotion today. And I’m kind of a person (who) never looks back . Always, I look forward.”

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Read the original article at People.