Have you ever noticed how some siblings in football chose to represent different national teams? In all honesty, it’s a beautiful thing. It shows that cultures have mixed, diversity is on display, and two loving humans from different backgrounds came together to reproduce – this is how it should be!
But I digress. In football, there’s examples of players who, despite having the same parents, chose to play for different international setups. Your friends at Football Fixtures have picked out some of the more prominent examples below.
Jerome & Kevin-Prince Boateng 🇩🇪🇬🇭
One of the most notable examples of siblings representing different national teams is the Boateng brothers: Jerome and Kevin-Prince Boateng. Born to a German mother and a Ghanaian father, the Boateng brothers grew up in Germany but eventually took different paths in their international careers.
Jerome Boateng opted to represent the German national team, winning the FIFA World Cup in 2014, while Kevin-Prince Boateng chose to play for Ghana, participating in the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups.
Ironically, Kevin-Prince Boateng is the man who cost legendary German midfielder Michael Ballack the 2010 World Cup. Whilst playing for Portsmouth against Chelsea in the 2010 FA Cup final, Kevin-Prince injured Ballack in a challenge just before half time rendering Ballack unable to continue. He subsequently missed the World Cup in the summer.
Thiago & Rafinha Alcantara 🇪🇸🇧🇷
The Alcantara brothers, Thiago and Rafinha, are an interesting case. Born in Italy to Brazilian parents, both brothers were eligible to represent multiple national teams. While Thiago Alcantara chose to represent Spain having moved there as a youngster, Rafinha Alcantara opted to play for the Brazilian national team.
Thiago is probably a tad unlucky not to have won anything with Spain at senior level. He’s struggled with injuries throughout his career but his talent can’t be disputed. That said, around the time that Spain were dominant, he had to compete against the likes of Xavi, Iniesta, Xabi Alonso, Sergio Busquets, Cesc Fabregas and David Silva – wow 😬
Inaki & Nico Williams 🇪🇸🇬🇭
Inaki and Nico Williams, both hailing from Basque Country, is another intriguing example of siblings picking different national teams.
Inaki Williams does in fact have a senior cap for Spain, but in 2022 he opted to switch his allegiance to Ghana, the country of his parents’ birth. His younger brother Nico is well on his way to establishing himself as a key player for Spain, and he has already exceeded the maximum caps allowed before a switch is possible. Both are talented players who seem to be making excellent progress at the international level.
Granit & Taulant Xhaka 🇨🇭🇦🇱
Granit Xhaka, the Swiss midfielder, and his brother Taulant Xhaka, who represents Albania, offer a compelling example of sibling rivalry in international football.
Granit has been a mainstay in the Swiss national team, serving as captain and showcasing his midfield prowess in major tournaments. Meanwhile, Taulant has become a key player for the Albanian national team. In Euro 2016, the brothers faced off against one another as Switzerland took on Albania. The bragging rights would belong to Granit after Switzerland won 1-0.
The phenomenon of siblings representing different national teams highlights the intersection of identity, heritage, and allegiance in football. Some players’ choice may have been influenced by head, whilst others by heart. In any case, it’s a thoroughly fascinating topic which we wanted to shed a light on.
