Newly-retired Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant wasn't content to merely work hard at being a legend in basketball during his career. Growing up in Italy, he learned to love soccer as a fan, admiring the beautiful game and the national team of Brazil as well as the club squad Barcelona for their high level of play.
Speaking Italian also helped Bryant improve his language skills in Spanish, and he became more fluent in the language as he neared retirement. Once he and his Mexican-American wife, Vanessa, had two daughters, Bryant also made his support for women's soccer well known.