Following a drab goalless draw with Ghana in a rain-soaked Boston, it would be reasonable to think nothing could have put a smile on Declan Rice’s face.

But some things in life are – perhaps arguably – bigger than football, and so it proved as the England midfielder spent precious time with his girlfriend and son while cradling a baby.

The Arsenal star and Lauren Fryer, both 27, looked to be full of joy in the stands, where they were joined by three-year-old Jude and the infant.

It is not known how the baby is related to the couple, but their representatives yesterday declined to comment on whether they had become parents again.

When Jude was born in August 2022, Rice revealed his arrival with a tattoo dedicated to the newborn during his former club West Ham’s 2-0 defeat by Brighton.

The ink-work showed the child’s name, apparent birth date of August 7 and a symbol of the star sign Leo.

Ms Fryer’s appearance at the 65,000-capacity Boston Stadium on Tuesday was the first time she has watched the Three Lions at this year’s World Cup, after missing the side’s opening 4-2 win over Croatia in Dallas.

The Surrey-based couple are childhood sweethearts, having met aged 17 at Grey Court School in Ham, south-west London.

She has since been ever-present in his life, witnessing his rise through West Ham’s academy and his £100million transfer to Arsenal in July 2023. 

When Rice was named Young Player of the Year at the London Football Awards in 2019, she sweetly posted on social media: ‘Couldn’t be more proud of my Dec winning young player of the year. You deserve everything and more.’ 

And this summer’s tournament in the US, Canada and Mexico is not Ms Fryer’s first rodeo on the international football scene.

She watched on from the stands with Jude as Rice joined Harry Kane and Co at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The Three Lions reached the quarter-final stage at that tournament, which was held during the winter.

Ms Fryer was also at the 2024 Euros in Germany, where England lost in the final to Spain. But it certainly hasn’t all been plain sailing. She decided to delete her social media posts and stop watching games two years ago amid vile chants from the stands and trolling online.

Now it appears she is returning to make special memories with her young family. Ms Fryer was seen on the pitch celebrating Arsenal’s Premier League title win last month. She will hope to be doing something similar come the World Cup final on July 19.