Footballers often grab headlines for their skills, goals, and transfers—but some also share the spotlight with someone who looks just like them. Yes, several famous footballers have twins, and you probably didn’t know it. While a few of their siblings are also professional players, others have chosen different paths. Here are 10 footballers who are twins:
1. Rafael and Fábio da Silva
These Brazilian full-backs started their careers at Manchester United. They are identical twins and were signed by Sir Alex Ferguson at the same time. Rafael stayed longer at United, while Fábio had shorter stints at Cardiff City and other clubs.
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2. Lars and Sven Bender
The German twins were both midfielders and played in the Bundesliga. Lars played for Bayer Leverkusen, and Sven for Borussia Dortmund and later also Leverkusen. They retired from professional football at the same time in 2021……CONTINUE READING
3. Frank and Ronald de Boer
Dutch legends Frank and Ronald de Boer were instrumental for Ajax, Barcelona, and the Netherlands national team. Known for their tactical intelligence and technical ability, these twins had a rich and synchronized football journey.
4. Hamit and Halil Altıntop
These Turkish-German twins both had successful careers in the Bundesliga. Hamit played for Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, while Halil had solid spells at Schalke and Kaiserslautern.
5. José and Juanmi Callejón
While José Callejón became a well-known name in Spain and Italy (Napoli), his twin Juanmi has played in lower divisions in Spain. They were born just minutes apart but took different career paths in football.
6. Josh and Jacob Murphy
These English twins came up through the Norwich City academy. Both play as wingers, and Jacob currently features for Newcastle United, while Josh has played for Cardiff and other clubs.
7. Andrei and Arseniy Arshavin
Andrei Arshavin, the former Arsenal and Russian international, has a twin brother named Arseniy, who chose not to pursue football. Although not in the public eye, Arseniy is known to have supported Andrei throughout his career.
8. Rami and Sami Gershon
Rami Gershon, an Israeli international, has a twin brother named Sami who didn’t pursue football professionally. Their story highlights how one twin can go on to global fame while the other lives a quieter life.
9. Adam and James Armstrong
Though not widely known, Adam Armstrong, a former Newcastle and current Southampton striker, has a twin brother James, who also played at youth level but did not make it professionally.
10. Leonel and Leandro Vangioni
Leonel Vangioni, who played for AC Milan and River Plate, has a twin brother named Leandro. Leandro did not play professionally but is often seen with Leonel during family and club events.
Twins in football are a fascinating topic—some go on to play side-by-side at elite levels, while others choose different paths. Did any of these surprise you?
