Bare-footed Lady Gaga plays soccer in Rio De Janeiro slums

She is one of the world's most successful pop stars, and one of the wealthiest. But Lady Gaga showed her charitable side on Thursday during her stay in Brazil, when she visited some of the poorest communities in Rio De Janeiro, known as favelas.

The 26-year-old singer ditched her more usual outrageous ensembles to journey into the Cantagalo slum, where she tried her hand at a game of soccer.

She was clearly touched by her visit which involved her learning about programmes in the neighbourhood to benefit the local children. 'Today was the best day I've ever had, had so much fun ,' she tweeted. 'I'll never forget Rio, you lit my heart into flames.'

The You and I singer, who is in Rio as part of her Born This Way Ball world tour, looked relatively low key in a colourful white dress and high heeled black shoes which she soon took off to go barefoot.

more pictures after the break...