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Gary Neville and Phil Neville, Kolo Toure and Yaya Toure, Rio Ferdinand and Anton Ferdinand...
We have come across a number of hugely successful brothers in the world of football, and though the aforementioned pairs aren't actively playing anymore, several others are. While some play for the same club, others don't even represent the same nation!
We will take a look at 10 such pairs of brothers who have made a name in the sport. The statistics used only involve league football from the ongoing season, and have been taken from the ever-reliable source WhoScored.
#10 Christian Benteke and Jonathan Benteke
Season Stats: (Christian/Jonathan)
Games: 29/1
Goals: 3/0
Assists: 5/0
He might be in an awful patch right now, but Christian Benteke used to be a dependable star for Crystal Palace last season.
The Eagles were delighted to have him, and his words carried much importance to the London club's board. Back in those days, he suggested the club to sign his younger brother Jonathan, then 21, from Belgian club Zulte-Waregem.
However, young Jonathan only made one Premier League appearance for Palace - a six-minute spell against Middlesbrough - replacing his big brother (as the picture above depicts).
He suffered a knee injury that very season which restricted him from playing any further for Palace. He now finds himself at Oldham Athletic, and his future does not look too bright.
#9 Gianluigi Donnarumma and Antonio Donnarumma
Season Stats : (Gianluigi/Antonio)
Games: 35/0
Goals Conceded: 39/0
Clean-sheets: 12/0
The Donnarumma brothers are quite a famous pair, but, for all the wrong reasons. Gianluigi Donnarumma is regarded as the best young goalkeeper in the world and AC Milan value him very, very highly.
However, the club struggled a fair bit to keep the 19-year-old Italian to the club. We often hear rumours of a conflict involving his agent (Mino Raiola) and the club board, regarding his contract and wages.
On top of that, Gianluigi only recently agreed to remain with the club on the condition that they provide his elder brother - Antonio - a contract too. This has led to the brother-duo and the fans of the club sharing a rather bitter relationship.
Interestingly enough, Antonio himself was an AC Milan youth product but didn't make a single appearance for the first team.
Things appear to be heading towards the right way, though. Gianluigi has continued to show promise, and Antonio kept a clean-sheet over 120 minutes against fierce rivals Inter on his debut.
#8 Giovani dos Santos and Jonathan dos Santos
Season Stats : (Giovani/Jonathan)
Games : 3/4
Goals: 1/1
Assists: 0/0
The Dos Santos brothers have been together for what feels like an eternity! Both Giovani and Jonathan started their professional career at Barcelona, having impressed their scouts at a youth tournament in France.
Both made their first team debuts for the Catalans while they were still teenagers. Elder brother Giovani moved to England (with Tottenham Hotspur) in 2008, while Jonathan continued to be with Barcelona, though he was limited to playing a role of a fringe player.
They were brought together again by Villareal, though for just the one season: 2014/15. Now, as if it was meant to be, they're back together again, this time with LA Galaxy.
While the elder of the two is the more popular and the better footballer, both can be immensely satisfied with what they have had so far. 131 combined caps for Mexico speak for itself.
#7 Eden Hazard and Thorgan Hazard
Season Stats : (Eden/Thorgan)
Games : 26/31
Goals: 12/9
Assists: 4/4
A fairly well-known pair, Eden and Thorgan Hazard have had very different careers so far. Though both started together at Chelsea (on arriving from the Ligue 1) in 2012, Eden has gone on to make over 200 Premier League appearances for the Blues, whereas Thorgan has zero.
Thorgan has seven appearances for Belgium while his elder brother Eden has 82. No comparisons there.
While it is tough for Thorgan to compete with Eden, who is one of the best players in the world, he doesn't need to either.
Thorgan is a great player himself, irrespective of his brother's reputation, and has been instrumental for Borussia Moenchengladbach this season.
They are not just the two though, with Kylian and Ethan Hazard trying to break into the picture as well. All we can say is that the Hazards must be one, proud family.
#6 Kevin-Prince Boateng and Jerome Boateng
Season Stats : (Kevin-Prince/Jerome)
Games: 25/19
Goals: 6/1
Assists: 1/2
Tackles per game: 1.1/1.4
Interceptions per game: 1.2/1.3
Blocks per game: 0.2/0.6
The Boatengs are one of the few examples of two brothers playing for different nations. Jerome turns up for Germany and Kevin-Prince for Ghana. Well, he used to at a time before he had a fallout with the Ghanaian FA in 2014.
Like the Dos Santos brothers, the Boatengs started at the same club, which in this case would be Hertha Berlin.
The elder of the two, Kevin, has donned the kits of nine clubs so far, compared to Jerome's four. They moved up the ranks of the national team from U-17 level to U-21 level, and years on, Jerome has 70 caps for Germany while Kevin has 15 for Ghana. That tells you everything you need to know.
Kevin never got the stability he needed at a club, and despite decent spells at AC Milan and Schalke 04, he just couldn't stick to one club.
However, he is back playing football in the Bundesliga, and has been in stellar form this season for Frankfurt - even better than his brother has been for Bayern!
#5 Rafael Da Silva and Fabio Da Silva
Season Stats : (Rafael/Fabio)
Games: 19/18
Goals: 1/1
Assists: 2/1
Tackles per game: 2.5/1.9
Blocks per game: 0.2/0.1
Interceptions per game: 2.5/1.5
The twins (like it isn't obvious) are very similar in their approach towards the game. Both started their career at Fluminense in Brazil, played as fullbacks, and were bought by Manchester United in 2008.
Rafael initially showed great promise, even snatching Gary Neville's place in the starting eleven. He, as we all know, could never live up to that promise and eventually signed for Lyon in 2015. He has been there ever since.
On the other hand, brother Fabio was affected by a series of injuries during his time with United, and after a loan spell with QPR, he moved on to Cardiff City. He is now playing with Middlesbrough.
Both have received just two caps for Brazil, and are unlikely to be even considered for a third. Ouch.
#4 Romelu Lukaku and Jordan Lukaku
Season Stats : (Romelu/Jordan)
Games: 34/28
Goals: 16/1
Assists: 7/2
Tackles per game: 0.2/1
Interceptions per game : 0.1/0.5
Key passes per game: 1/0.8
It is a little difficult to compare the Lukaku brothers. Elder brother Romelu is one of the most prolific strikers in the world and has already reached a century of Premier League goals before the age of 25.
On the other hand, Jordan might not be a footballing icon but is still a very dependable right-back who is well-built, and great going forward.
Both of them joined the Anderlecht academy in 2006, before graduating to their first team. Romelu showed more promise between the two and was promoted to the first team in 2009. By the time Jordan - younger by only 9 months - made it to the first team, Romelu had received his big break: a move to Chelsea.
Romelu found first team opportunities scarce at the London club and failed to score a league goal for the Pensioners in 10 outings.
However, he tore the Premier League apart in each of his two loans spells, at West Bromwich Albion and Everton.
Everton did well to sign him permanently and were thoroughly rewarded with 68 goals in 141 league games.
Manchester United came calling last summer with a big money move for the Belgian - and he has had a fairly good start in Manchester.
On the other hand, brother Jordan is now set to finish his second season with Lazio and has established himself as a first-team regular. He has seven caps for Belgium compared to Romelu's 66. Both of them are yet to reach their peak years, and very promising futures beckon the two.
#3 Thiago Alcantara and Rafinha Alcantara
Season Stats : (Thiago/Rafinha)
Games : 17/9
Goals: 2/0
Assists: 2/3
Key passes per game: 1.5/1.7
Tackles per game: 2.2/0.6
Interceptions per game: 1.5/0.5
The Alcantara brothers started their professional career at Barcelona. Also, similar to the Boateng brothers, they both represent different countries.
Thiago remains one of Spain's best players, and on the other hand, Rafinha will have to work extremely hard to get what would be only his third cap for Brazil.
Both of them play as midfielders, though Rafinha is a tad more offensive than his elder brother.
Thiago became a special talent at Barcelona and followed his godfather Pep Guardiola to Bayern Munich in 2011. He has certainly lived up to the expectations.
As for Rafinha, he is still trying to get his career back on track and is currently on loan at Inter Milan.
He will be hoping to reach the heights everyone thought he would. Still only 25, it's not too late by any means.
#2 Andre Ayew and Jordan Ayew
Season Stats : (Andre/Jordan)
Games : 27/33
Goals: 3/7
Assists: 3/2
Key passes per game: 0.4/0.5
Sons of legendary footballer Abedi Pele, the Ayew brothers might not be as great as their father but are quality players nonetheless.
They both began their professional career at Marseille. Elder brother Andre was the better of the two, and remained at the French club for eight years, compared to his brother who did for five. Both of them represented the club over 100 times in the Ligue 1. While Andre continued with Marseille, Jordan was transferred to Lorient.
In 2015, both of them came to England, Andre with Swansea City and Jordan with Aston Villa.
Two years on, they have been reunited again - at Swansea. Ghanaians through and through, they have earned a combined total of 121 caps for their nation.
Two very exciting footballers whom we all love to watch.
#1 Sven Bender and Lars Bender
Season Stats : (Lars/Sven)
Games: 20/34
Goals: 2/2
Assists: 3/0
Key passes per game: 0.7/0.1
Tackles per game: 3.1/1.8
Interceptions per game: 1.7/2.1
Same looks? Check.
Same position? Check.
Same nation they represent? Check.
Same club they play for? Check.
The Benders are the definition of brothers in football. Like many others in this list, Lars and Sven started at the same club too, 1860 Munich in this case.
They began their career in the same year - 2006. They left Munich in the same year too - 2009! While Sven moved to Borussia Dortmund and played there for eight years, Lars went to Bayer Leverkusen.
In 2017, Sven ended his tenure at Dortmund and joined his brother at Bayer Leverkusen, to be united once again.
