Ten things Jermain Defoe can’t live without

As the new face of Toronto FC, the English striker is leading the club’s drive for its first-ever playoff spot. Here, the 10 things he can’t live without

Photographs by Norman Wong

1 | My Bible
I always have one with me. I grew up in a Catholic home, and my family taught me to have faith.

2 | My aftershave
I’ll never ever wear anything but Creed Aventus. When I left England for Toronto, I brought loads of bottles with me in case I couldn’t find it here. Then I arrived, and you can get it everywhere.

3 | My watch collection
My mom keeps all of them in a safe—she won’t give them to me! She says I’ll leave them out and someone will steal them. This Franck Muller is one of my favourites. I didn’t want white ­diamonds because they’re too flashy, so I got black diamonds instead.

4 | My charity
I launched the Jermain Defoe Foundation last year to help disadvantaged kids in St. Lucia, where my mom’s from. We’re working to raise enough money to build a children’s home, and I’d like to set up a football academy there, too.

5 | My hand cream
It’s Laura Mercier, and it’s the best moisturizer in the world. When I first got to Toronto, I was sitting in the locker room, putting it on, and the boys are all looking at me, like, “J.D., what’s that?” I made them smell it and now they all want to get some.

6 | My two phones
One’s for ­England, the other is for Toronto. Wherever I go, I always try to get a phone number that ends with 1414—I had that number years ago, and I like keeping it.

7 | My pre-game ritual
I have porridge with berries twice on game days: once when I wake up, and again in the afternoon. I do get sick of it, but the slow-release energy works. As Mike Tyson said, “Discipline is doing what you hate to do, but nonetheless doing it like you love it.”

8 | A football
The obvious pick. From the time I could walk, I was crazy for ­football. Even when I’m retired, I’ll still have a kick-around with my friends.

9 | My iPad
I use it to watch films when we’re travelling for away games. I love the classics and gangster films—The Godfather, Scarface, American Gangster.

10 | My TFC suit
In England, you always have a club suit, but it’s usually quite basic—just a badge on the blazer. Here, the entire team has three-piece suits by Garrison. They’re really sharp.