10 pairs of best friends in world football currently

#4 Luka Modric and Gareth Bale | best friends since Tottenham

Real Madrid CF v UD Almeria - La Liga

Gareth Bale and Luka Modric made massive waves at Tottenham over a decade ago. They played brilliant football, but they were fast friends too. When Modric moved to Real Madrid, he didn't lose touch with Bale, and by 2013, the midfield maestro openly discussed the Welshman's move to the Santiago Bernabeu:

"Since Madrid is the team of the galaxy, Bale would fit perfectly, we could really use him. He would give the team another dimension. I can tell you we're friends and he is an exceptional player. I guarantee it."

Los Blancos certainly listened to Modric's words and brought Bale in, and the consequent years saw the duo win back-to-back European trophies and titles all round. Although Bale may have been struggling at Madrid recently, he still has his best friend's shoulders to lean on.

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#3 Marco Reus and Robert Lewandowski | best friends at Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund Training and Press Conference

For Marco Reus, it was a tough couple of seasons: his two closest friends Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski left Borussia Dortmund for Bayern Munich in two consecutive seasons.

However, while Gotze now plays for PSV, Reus and Lewandowski continue their love-hate affair, playing for the two biggest rivals in German football.

Although they hang out often and spend a lot of time outside football, they try as much as possible to look like enemies during games. They play for rival clubs after all.

It hasn't always been easy, as they've had quirky moments like the popular moment when both players tried to maintain their seriousness, but broke off smirking at each other.

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#2 Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo | best friends at Real Madrid

Marcelo and Ronaldo meet for the first time

When the two players met, it was at an international fixture between Brazil and Portugal in 2008, and they had an altercation. However, with Ronaldo joining Marcelo at Real Madrid, the two became inseparable on and off the pitch. While at Juventus, Ronaldo spoke in an interview about missing Marcelo, stating:

"Marcelo is very happy here [at Real Madrid]. I got on very well with him and we speak a lot, the same with Casemiro, with Pepe, with Coentrao. I got along well with everyone, but Marcelo is lively and I miss him."

Ronaldo and Marcelo's respective families were also quite close, with the Brazilian's wife reflecting on how Ronaldo's Juventus move affected the family:

"We have felt it because we got on really well with his family. I know his mother well and Georgina is charming. Furthermore, my son is really good friends with Junior, Cristiano's son. So it has left us with a big vacuum."

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#1 Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez | best friends at Barcelona

Real Sociedad v FC Barcelona - La Liga

Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi have had a famous friendship, especially with the two stars partnering so delightfully on the field. However, Suarez was deemed surplus to requirements by Barcelona over a year ago, and he moved to Atletico Madrid where he ensured a brilliant title win for Diego Simeone's men.

Messi, on the other hand, has gone to Paris Saint-Germain after his contract with Barcelona finally expired.

But the two stars have remained very close. Messi was openly displeased about Suarez's treatment at Barcelona, and more recently, Suarez expressed his anger with the way Messi's contract was handled.

With their wives still close and their families catching up for meals and dinners, it's fair to say that the duo have one of the best friendships in football.