We have seen countless number of times when footballers opted to play for relatively stronger international teams to increase their chances of winning an international trophy (Eg: Miroslav Klose, Diego Costa etc).
But once in a while, out of sheer patriotism, you could say, some footballers have opted to play for the country that they were born in despite having the chance to play for a country where they had a better chance to win a major honour.
Here we present to you 5 such famous footballers who opted to play for their nation of birth ahead of another more successful international team:
#1 Gareth Bale
The Real Madrid star is currently one of the best players in the world and played a pivotal role in Wales’ dream run to the semi-final of Euro 2016. However, the Welshman had the option to play for the England national team through his grandmother but opted against it.
Not only did Bale play a key role in the Dragons’ run to the semi-final, he was instrumental in the qualifying also as his goals paved the way for the Dragons to qualify for their first ever major finals since the 1958 FIFA World Cup.
Ironically, England and Wales were drawn together in the same group at Euro 2016 with the Three Lions recording a 2-1 win over their neighbors in their group stage clash – Bale scored the only goal for his side. Despite the loss, Wales went on to qualify as group leaders ahead of England – who finished runners-up.
Till date, Bale has managed to net 24 times for his national team and is the second highest scorer in their history, only behind Ian Rush who had managed to score 28 goals.
"It is an honour to play for Wales...Nobody ever got in touch with me personally from England, only through my agent." ~ Gareth Bale
#2 Nuri Sahin
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Nuri Sahin was born in Ludenscheid, West Germany and was raised in Germany but opted to play for Turkey – the country from which his family hails.
Sahin’s career may have stagnated at Signal Iduna Park but at one point of time, he was the Golden Boy of Turkish football. He became the youngest player to play in the Bundesliga when he debuted with Dortmund at the age of 16 years and 334 days, before becoming the youngest player to score in Bundesliga – when he netted against Nuremberg at the age of 17 years and 193 days.
The 28-year-old made his international debut for Turkey in a game against Germany and scored against them – Ironic. Since his debut for Turkey in 2005, he appeared in his national colours on 51 occasions but had he opted to play for Germany – he could have had a World Cup winners medal to his name.
“I see myself as a link between the two countries.” ~ Nuri Sahin
#3 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Aubameyang is, without a shadow of doubt, one of the most lethal and prolific goalscorers in the world of football right now. The Borussia Dortmund speedster has been linked with moved to some of Europe's biggest clubs and a transfer will materialize sooner rather than later.
However, the 27-year-old has a very peculiar story when it comes to his national team. Born in Laval, France, Aubameyang spent his childhood there before moving to Italy to further his footballing career at the age of 18 when he joined AC Milan’s youth team.
After impressing during his loan spell at Dijon, Aubameyang was invited to play for the Italian Under-19 team but he instead made his debut for the French Under-21 team in the February of 2009.
Despite being born and raised in France, Aubameyang made his senior debut for the Gabonese national side in March of 2009 – the same team his father had represented in 80 games during a span of 13 years.
Born to a Gabonese father and a French mother, Aubameyang had the option to represent either of Gabon or France but he opted to play for the less illustrious side.
#4 Pepe
Pepe or Képler Laveran Lima Ferreira, was born in Marceio, Brazil and spent most of his childhood playing for local team Sport Club Corinthians Alagoanolocal before moving to Portugal at the age of 18. He joined C.S. Maritimo, which is located on the island of Madeira before finally earning a transfer to FC Porto three years later.
Despite being born and brought up in Brazil, Pepe never had the affinity towards his homeland and wanted to play for his adopted nation – Portugal. The 34-year-old’s father has disclosed that the Real Madrid star was contacted by the then Brazil manager Dunga in 2006 regarding a possible call-up to the national team but Pepe declined it as he was waiting to become a Portuguese citizen before joining the Selecao’s national team.
He was granted Portuguese citizenship in August of 2007 and he made his debut for the national side, four months later in a 0-0 draw against Finland. The rest, as they say is history, as the defender played a key role in Portugal’s Euro 2016 triumph.
Pepe’s decision to play for Portugal ahead of Brazil paid dividends as he now has a major international trophy to his name – a feat he might not have achieved with the Brazil national team given that the Pentacampeões have been on a barren run from 2007 until now.
#5 Lionel Messi
Born to Jorge Messi – of Italian and Spanish heritage – and to Celia Cuccittini – of Italian descent – Lionel Andres Messi was eligible to play for either Argentina or Spain courtesy of his dual citizenship.
Messi was born in Rosario and llved there until he was 13, playing for Newell’s Old Boys. After his club were unable to pay for the treatment of his growth-hormone deficiency, Messi moved to Barcelona in the September of 2000. Due to Argentina being his birthplace and because of his Spanish lineage, Messi was eligible to play for either of the two countries but the 5-time Ballon d’Or winner always wanted to don the Blue and White of La Albiceleste.
Any team in the world would want Lionel Messi to play for them, so when the Spanish Under-17 selectors came calling for Messi in 2003, it was no surprise. It so happened that Barcelona’s director of football, Carles Rexach, had informed the Royal Spanish Football Federation of the presence of an insanely gifted youngster in their youth ranks.
Such was the talent of a 16-year-old Lionel Messi, that to prevent him from being poached by the Royal Spanish Football Federation the AFA (Argentine Football Association) specially organized two Under-20 friendlies against Paraguay and Uruguay to cement his status as an Argentine international in FIFA.
One is left to wonder what could have been had Messi opted to play for the Spanish national team. Instead of the incessant heartbreaks, he could have been a two-time Euro and a World Cup winner. Instead, he is left to rue his side’s loss in the finals of three consecutive major international tournaments.
