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Meeting your favorite athlete can be a transcendent life experience. You spend your life worshipping him/her across every medium available to the point where they don't seem like real people—they're demigods. So when you get that one chance to meet them, or even spend a second in their aura, it can be thrilling—even thirsty. For those fans who haven't practiced what face they'd make in a picture with their favorite, these moments can come off as embarrassing and even sexually weird. Unfortunately for a few fans of LeBron James, Lionel Messi, and Danica Patrick, they came off as crazy-looking in this Gallery: The Thirstiest Fan-Athlete Photos on the Internet.
Tim Tebow
Ah, a kiss through the facemask. How romantic.
Sergio Agüero
Who's enjoying this moment more?!
Tiger Woods
This photo was taken back in '99, what do you think is the over/under on the amount of blondes Tiger has hooked up with since then?
Kobe Bryant
This Chinese fan couldn't help it after seeing Kobe Bryant. Let those tender Kobe tears fall, bro.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Be yourself, kids.
Nick Punto
Danny DeVito's thirst to meet .248 career hitter Nick Punto was a little weird.
Lionel Messi
That's the most possessive looking hug we've ever seen.
Yao Ming
"Look how big IT is!"
Frank Lampard
Chelsea had just beaten Bayern Munich in the Champions League final. Does this fan get a heat of the moment pass?
Jeremy Roenick
Hey, you probably looked crazy in the '90s too.
Jack WIlshere
"OH JACK WILSHERE PLEASE TOUCH MY HAND PLEASE."
Jeff Owens
The passion (that's a 10 out of 10 kiss) to age difference ratio (in years) is looking like 10:40. Gross.
Shawn Thornton
This woman was so stunned by Shawn Thornton's presence that she literally couldn't talk.
Cadillac Williams
And here you have the most excited Cadillac Williams fan in the world
Lionel Messi's Kiss
It's not everyday that you get to kiss greatness.
Mikel Arteta
This thirsty fan was so eager and determined to meet his heroes that he ran FIVE KILOMETERS to chase down Arsenal's team bus.
Cristiano Ronaldo's Hug
"Ronaldo, will you marry me?"
The Thirst In Cleveland Is Real
Don't lie Cavs fans: Even though you burned all those No. 23 jerseys, you all miss LeBron dearly.
Mario Chalmers
The ether is powerful in Young Chalmers.
