We’re sure you have noticed that some of the footballers that have played together belong to the same family and are brothers. Of course, you know the Neville brothers (Gary and Phil), who started their careers at Manchester United. Jerome and Kevin Prince Boateng, own brothers but both played for different countries, Jerome for Germany and Kevin for Ghana. And also the Toure brothers, Yaya and Kolo.
However, we’re pretty sure you didn’t know that these players are relatives, here’s a list of great players from the same family.
1. Lionel Messi and Bojan Krkić
Lionel Messi and Bojan Krkić had two stints together in the Barcelona shirt. Their relation? Leo and Bojan are fourth cousins. That still counts. To put it in short, Leo’s great-great-grandfather and Bojan’s great-great-grandfather were brothers. Clearly, Leo inherited better footballing skills.
2. Ferland Mendy and Edouard Mendy
Real Madrid left-back Ferland Mendy and Chelsea’s keeper Edouard Mendy are cousins. Both played for Le Havre in their formative years. Ferland went pro before Edouard and joined Lyon and then Real Madrid. Fate has decided to put them head to head in the Champions League semi-finals. Quite a journey for both.
3. Kylian Mbappe and Jirès Kembo Ekoko
We all know Kylian Mbappe as one of the best players in the world, but who is Jirès Kembo Ekoko? And how are they related? Ekoko has played for Rennes in France and Al Ain in the UAE. He was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo but was sent aged six to study in France by his parents who placed him with the Mbappe family so Kylian and Ekoko became adopted brothers.
4. James Rodriguez and David Ospina
James Rodriguez and David Ospina have played together numerous times for Colombia and the pair became even closer when Rodriguez married Ospina’s volleyball-playing sister Daniela. After six years of marriage, the couple split up in 2017, rumour has it that Daniela was not interested in shifting to Germany with James.
5. Diego Maradona and Sergio Agüero
The most famous of the pairings on our list today, Argentinians Diego Maradona and Sergio Agüero are related. Sergio was married to Maradona’s daughter Giannina Maradona. They separated after four years of marriage, the couple has a son named Benjamin.
6. Luka Modrić and Mark Viduka
Arguably, the most successful footballers of their respective nations, Luka Modrić for Croatia and Mark Viduka for Australia, the pair are related by blood. They are cousins. Viduka’s father was born in Croatia before immigrating to Australia, where the former Celtic and Leeds striker was born. In fact, Viduka joined Celtic from Dinamo Zagreb, the same club where Luka started his career.
7. Alex Iwobi and Jay Jay Okocha
The former Bolton Wanderers midfielder, Jay Jay Okocha, is a legend of the game. Often proclaimed as the best Nigerian footballer ever. He is the maternal uncle of Alex Iwobi of Everton. Okocha, in fact, convinced Iwobi to play for Nigeria instead of England. Iwobi was eligible to play for England as well.
8. Edin Džeko and Emir Spahić
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s two most capped players, Edin Džeko and Emir Spahić are cousins. You must know former Manchester City striker Edin Džeko. On the other hand, Emir Spahić is Bosnia’s rock at the back. They were both parts of the historic Bosnia team that qualified for the Brazil World Cup in 2014.
