John Terry is all smiles as he puckers up to a dolphin on holiday in Florida (while the England team train in chilly Portugal)

                                                               

While everyone else is gearing up for the World Cup in Brazil, footballer John Terry has escaped the excitement to splash around with dolphins in Florida.

The Chelsea captain was pictured swimming with a dolphin at Discovery Cove in Orlando, while controversy swirled at home about his absence from the World Cup.

The footballer retired from international games in 2012, but some have critcised Roy Hodgson for not trying to convince him to join the World Cup squad this summer. 

                        

Diving in: Terry signed a new one-year contract at Stamford Bridge only last week

However, football seemed far from Terry's mind as he donned a lifejacket to pose for pictures at the SeaWorld-run park.

Making friends with a bottlenose dolphin, the footballer smiles for the camera and even bends down to give it a kiss.

 

The star, who is on holiday with his family, also took a turn about the pool with the dolphin, being dragged along by holding on to its fin.

Discovery Cove is the sister park to SeaWorld, where visitors can swim with dolphins, giant rays and tropical fish.

                        

Seems a touch nicer! Terry was sunning himself for pleasure while England trained in winter clothing

SeaWorld in particular has been hit by controversy in recent months over its killer whale performances, with various holiday companies threatening to boycott the park over its practices.

Terry seemed a world away from any controversies while he enjoyed his day at the park.

His former England teammates are busy training in chilly Portugal ahead of the World Cup in Brazil next month.

While Britain enjoys warmer weather, Portugal has been unseasonably cold in recent days.