'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
To make it in professional football and play at the highest level is a huge accomplishment. There are plenty of individuals who dedicate their entire lives to training but still don't do well enough to play in any of the top divisions.
That's why two people from the same family making it big is still quite a big thing for the spectators. We have seen plenty of successful brother duos in football. Gary Neville and Phil Neville, Kolo Toure and Yaya Toure, Filippo Inzaghi and Simone Inzaghi... the list goes on.
Some brothers are so fortunate that they get to play for the same club at the same time or represent their country together. However, there are also brother duos who don't even represent the same nation.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five of the best brother duos in football right now.
#5 Jerome Boateng and Kevin-Prince Boateng
Jerome Boateng and Kevin-Prince Boateng are good examples of brothers playing for different nations. While Jerome Boateng plays for Germany, Kevin-Prince Boateng used to represent Ghana until 2014.
Both Jerome Boateng and Kevin-Prince Boateng started off at Hertha Berlin. Jerome, a centre-back, currently struts his stuff for Olympique Lyon, the fifth club he has played for in an illustrious career.
Meanwhile, Kevin-Prince, who plays as a midfielder or a forward, has returned to his first club Hertha Berlin at the end of a journeyman's career where he has turned up for 14 different clubs.
Jerome Boateng won the 2014 World Cup with Germany. He has two Champions League titles, nine Bundesliga titles, five DFB Pokals, one FA Cup and two Club World Cups to his name. He was also named the German Footballer of the Year in 2016.
Kevin-Prince Boateng won the Serie A with AC Milan in the 2010-11 season. He was on loan at Barcelona when the Catalans lifted the La Liga title in the 2018-19 season. He has also won the DFB Pokal with Eintracht Frankfurt.
The relationship between the half-brothers who share the same father and different mothers has soured in recent times. After Jerome Boateng was fined for domestic abuse, Kevin-Prince Boateng claimed he condemns his brother's actions and that he has nothing to do with him anymore. He told Bild:
"I've distanced myself from Jerome for a long time. I value and respect German law. I abhor violence against women. I don't identify with my brother's actions and that's why I no longer have anything to do with him."
#4 Thiago Alcantara and Rafinha Alcantara
The sons of Brazilian World Cup winner Mazinho, both Thiago and his brother Rafinha are La Masia products who started their careers at Barcelona. While both were technically gifted players with plenty of flair, their career trajectories have gone differently.
Thiago Alcantara blossomed into one of the best central midfielders of his generation. He left Barcelona in 2013 and followed Pep Guardiola to Bayern Munich. At the peak of his powers, Thiago was a mainstay in the Spanish national side and was well worthy of taking over from the likes of Xavi and Andres Iniesta.
Meanwhile, Rafinha Alcantara's regular bouts with injuries have stopped him from realizing his potential. The attacking midfielder's stint at Barcelona was marred by injuries and consequent loan spells. He is currently plying his trade for Paris Saint-Germain.
Thiago plays for Spain while Rafinha plays for Brazil. At club level, Thiago currently plays for Liverpool and has struggled with a few injury problems in recent times.
#3 Romelu Lukaku and Jordan Lukaku
While Romelu Lukaku is quite a familiar name, his brother Jordan Lukaku has had to bide his time to eventually make a name for himself. While Romelu Lukaku has firmly established himself as one of the best strikers in Europe, Jordan Lukaku is a well-built full-back.
Romelu Lukaku has been a standout performer for Belgium on the international circuit. Jordan Lukaku has only made eight appearances for the Belgian Red Devils and is not really in the conversation anymore.
Romelu was Inter Milan's best player as the Nerazzurri won the Serie A title last season after a gap of 11 years. Jordan Lukaku has been at Lazio since 2016 but was sent on loan to Antwerp for the 2020-21 season.
Romelu has joined Chelsea and got off to a decent start to his second stint at the club. He has played for Anderlecht, West Bromwich Albion, Everton, Manchester United, Inter Milan and Chelsea in his club career. His younger brother has played for Anderlecht, Oostende, Lazio and Antwerp.
The brothers have played together for the Belgian national side and have linked up to score a goal together as well back in 2016 against Portugal.
#2 Eden Hazard and Thorgan Hazard
Both Eden Hazard and Thorgan Hazard have proved that they are capable of the spectacular over the course of the last decade. Eden Hazard has had a slightly better career so far. After all, he was often considered the third best player in the world after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo during the peak years of their rivalry.
Eden Hazard was an unstoppable force during his Chelsea days. The ball would just stick to his feet as he flitted past defenders and sent goalkeepers guessing for several seasons.
Hazard was Chelsea's main man for almost a decade and won two Premier League titles, one FA Cup, two Europa League titles and one League Cup with the Blues.
Though his dream move to Real Madrid has not exactly worked out due to consistent injury issues and a dip in form, Hazard seems to be slowly hitting his stride again.
Thorgan Hazard was at Chelsea with his brother Eden but he never made a senior appearance for the club and was loaned out in all three seasons he was there. But Thorgan's reputation was already growing and he won the Belgian Player of the Year Award in the 2013-14 season.
Thorgan spent five years at Bayer Leverkusen before copping a move to Borussia Dortmund. In the meantime, the brothers had started playing together for the Belgian national side. Most recently, Thorgan Hazard produced a brilliant curler from 25 yards out to eliminate Portugal from Euro 2020 in the Round of 16.
#1 Lucas Hernandez and Theo Hernandez
Lucas Hernandez and Theo Hernandez are arguably the most in-form brothers in the world of football right now. While Lucas Hernandez has been excellent for Bayern Munich, Theo Hernandez has been one of AC Milan's best players in recent times.
Lucas Hernandez can play at left-back as well as at centre-back. Theo Hernandez is more of an out-and-out left-back whose technical qualities make him one of the best in the business in that position. Theo scored eight goals and provided eight assists in 45 appearances across all competitions for the Rossoneri last term.
He has started the new season on a promising note as well, scoring a goal and providing three assists in seven Serie A appearances so far. Both Lucas Hernandez and Theo Hernandez are products of Atletico Madrid's youth academy.
While younger brother Theo Hernandez spent two years at cross-city rivals Real Madrid before moving to Milan, Lucas Hernandez spent five years at Atletico. Towards the end of his stint with the Rojiblancos, Lucas had become a mainstay in Diego Simeone's backline.
Lucas Hernandez played as the left-back for France as they won the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Theo Hernandez only recently made his debut for the French national side.
Lucas and Theo were deployed together as centre-back and left-back in a 3-4-2-1 formation in the UEFA Nations League semi-final against Belgium. This marked the first time that the brothers played a senior competitive game together. To add the icing on the cake, Theo Hernandez snatched the a 90th minute winner for Les Bleus to help them advance to the final which they would win against Spain.
