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Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo Endorse Barack Obama in 2012 Presidential Election

Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo have got the President’s back … way back.

The two soccer stars publicly backed Barack Obama in the 2012 U.S. presidential election, according to CNN.

The incumbent Obama faces a stiff challenge from Mitt Romney as he seeks to retain the highest office in the land for four more years.

Rooney, a citizen of the U.K., was the first to pledge his support. He watched all three televised debates between the two major-party candidates and told his 5.3 million Twitter followers who he would vote for — if he could.

Watched all the presidential debates. If I had to vote would vote Obama.

— Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) October 23, 2012

Ronaldo, a Portugal native, prefers Obama because the president speaks so well. The Real Madrid star looks forward to the day when he can shake Obama’s hand.

“I like the way he speaks with people, his communication — I think it’s always firm what he says — and I would like to meet him because he’s an honest person,” Ronaldo said.

Both players are 27 years old and reaching an age of maturity. Neither had publicly expressed much interest in political matters before, but it’s common for people living in democratic societies to do so as they get older. Perhaps the fact that they are fathers of young children is at play in their decisions to air their opinions in public.

Neither star is able to cast a ballot in Tuesday’s election. The franchise is limited to eligible U.S. citizens who are 18 years old and over.

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Thumbnail photo via Flickr/guerito09