Football fan boy! One Direction's Niall Horan helps pal Robbie Keane celebrate his 35th birthday with fancy LA dinner alongside Steven Gerrard

He's made no secret of his passion for football.

And One Direction's Niall Horan has been lucky enough to befriend many of his sporting icons over the course of his pop career, receiving an invitation to an intimate gathering in honour of Robbie Keane's 35th birthday on Wednesday night.

The 21-year-old singer took pride of place at the dinner table in between the Irish striker and his new LA Galaxy team mate, Steven Gerrard, during a fancy meal at BOA West Hollywood.

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Birthday bash: 1D's Niall Horan was the guest of honour at Robbie Keane's 35th birthday party at BOA West Hollywood on Wednesday night

Birthday bash: 1D's Niall Horan was the guest of honour at Robbie Keane's 35th birthday party at BOA West Hollywood on Wednesday night

Niall was easily the youngest around the table, but the cheeky chappy seemed totally at ease in amongst Robbie's pals.

The birthday boy's wife Claudine Keane shared several snaps of the gathering on Twitter, joking that the Ireland captain was mortified when a celebratory desert complete with sparklers was brought out. 

She joked: 'Had the most amazing meal in BOA West Hollywood to celebrate Rob's birthday', adding, 'Loved embarrassing him with the sparklers... Mortified', alongside a laughing emoji.

Pride of place: The 21-year-old Irish singer was seated in between Steven Gerrard (left), LA Galaxy captain Robbie (centre) and his glamorous wife Claudine (right)

Pride of place: The 21-year-old Irish singer was seated in between Steven Gerrard (left), LA Galaxy captain Robbie (centre) and his glamorous wife Claudine (right)

'Mortified': Claudine joked on Twitter that her poor husband was embarrassed when restaurant staff brought out a giant dessert decorated with sparklers

'Mortified': Claudine joked on Twitter that her poor husband was embarrassed when restaurant staff brought out a giant dessert decorated with sparklers

Niall and Robbie have bonded over their home country and love of sport, with Niall first sharing a snap of his new pal backstage at a 1D concert at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles last September.

'So cool to have Robbie Keane down at the show last night! Irish footballing legend!', he wrote.

For Christmas, the lovable boy band member even sent Robbie's son Robert Jnr a signed guitar, which the footballer said had 'made his Christmas'.

Tucking in: Robbie's gourmet birthday treat featured a message piped in dark chocolate, reading, 'Happy Birthday L.A. Legend'

Tucking in: Robbie's gourmet birthday treat featured a message piped in dark chocolate, reading, 'Happy Birthday L.A. Legend'

Firm friends: Niall met Robbie backstage at a One Direction concert in LA last September 

Firm friends: Niall met Robbie backstage at a One Direction concert in LA last September 

Niall has also wasted no time in bonding with Steven Gerrard, who has just swapped Liverpool for Hollywood with his wife Alex Gerrard.

The One Direction favourite stopped by the sportsman's new mansion to pay a surprise visit to his three young daughters Lilly-Ella, Lourdes and Lexie.

'Great to see @stevengerrard , Alex and the girls today! What a great guy he is ...', he wrote on Instagram.

'Great to catch up with this fella today. Thanks for popping in to see the girls mate,' Gerrard replied. 

Kind-hearted: Niall stopped by Steven's house to pay a surprise visit to his three young daughters, who are big fans of the boy band 

Kind-hearted: Niall stopped by Steven's house to pay a surprise visit to his three young daughters, who are big fans of the boy band 

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