Theresa May was handed a Belgian football shirt ahead of the team’s World Cup clash with England as she arrived at a summit in Brussels.
The Prime Minister was given the replica top by Belgian counterpart Charles Michel as the European Council meeting began.
Mrs May cracked a smile as she was handed the shirt with the number 10 on it.
The number could have been a reference to Mrs May’s 10 Downing Street address, but it is also the shirt worn by Chelsea and Belgium star Eden Hazard.
Mr Michel also handed a Belgium football scarf to European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, who draped it over Ireland’s Leo Varadkar.
Mrs May will not be able to catch the game dubbed the “Brexit derby” because she will be locked in talks over a working dinner when the match kicks off at 8pm local time.
But a senior UK official said they could “make her aware” of the score “if needs be”.
Mrs May later joked that she had scored an “equaliser” as she presented a gift of her own to Mr Michel.
She handed over an England shirt – and special commemorative tops for his family.
The custom-made shirts have the flags of England and Belgium and the date of Thursday’s match.
Meanwhile Taoiseach Mr Varadkar said he would be supporting Belgium – nicknamed The Red Devils – in the game.
“I am here in Brussels in Belgium so of course I am going to be cheering for the home team,” he said.
“But of course if Belgium wins England will probably get an easier ride in the next round so perhaps it is one of those win-win scenarios.”
