One was a member of the best team never to win a World Cup, the other one of the most pragmatic to. This is the story of Sócrates and Raí
Brothers, rivals, icons. Double the thrills from some of the game’s greatest siblings.
These Football Times
Whilst Filippo Inzaghi was the more successful striker on the pitch, Simone has more than matched his brother in the dugout
Becoming the first brothers to win the Euros together was only a small part of the career achievements of Erwin and Ronald Koeman
Underwhelming across multiple stints abroad, the Yakins would secure celebrated status within the borders of their native Switzerland
Despite being proud Scots and phenomenal footballers, neither Gerry nor Joe Baker would ever represent their nation at international level
Both starting out in the famed academy of West Ham, it would prove to be two very different career paths for Rio and Anton Ferdinand
Relatively uncelebrated in Europe, on both sides of the Panama Canal, the Barros Schelotto twins’ achievements are highly renowned
José Callejón is renowned in Europe as a Napoli stalwart, but his lesser-known twin Juanmi enjoys just as much acclaim in South America
For over a decade, twins Antonio and Emanuele Filippini spent their weekends stifling the midfields of some of Serie A’s most creative forces
Renowned as a leader light in Wimbledon’s Crazy Gang, John Fashanu would enjoy a complicated relationship with tragic brother Justin
Destined to play football, Thiago and Rafinha would seek to carry on their family tradition of success at some of Europe’s biggest clubs
Growing up in the shadow of Ian Wright, Shaun and Bradley Wright-Phillips would experience a series of peaks and troughs across their careers
On different sides of the divide, Giuseppe and Franco Baresi would seek to make Milan their own amidst a stream of trophies
Abandoned by their footballing father as children, it has been a long road to stardom for Lucas and Theo Hernández
Exemplifying sibling rivalry, Siem and Luuk de Jong would spend much of their careers fighting against one another
From being a rock for the Invincibles to marauding runs in Manchester, few siblings have influenced the Premier League like the Tourés
Both proud exponents of their Kosovan heritage, fate would contrive to pit Taulant and Granit Xhaka against one another at Euro 2016
Despite never playing club football together, Danny and Jackie Blanchflower’s storied careers would make a lasting impression in Britain
Part of Ajax’s 1995 Champions League-winning side, Ronald and Frank de Boer would follow each other around for the rest of their careers
Both emerging amid much hype from the fabled walls of La Masia, Giovani and Jonathan dos Santos wouldn’t quite hit the heights once projected
Arriving in England as children with only their mother alongside them, George and Ted Robledo would go on to become pioneers in Newcastle
Arriving in 2008 as curly haired teenagers, the enigmatic twins of Rafael and Fábio da Silva would become cult heroes at Old Trafford
In careers that saw them become icons, Jack and Bobby Charlton would turn into one of the most successful siblings football has ever seen
Inseparable when growing up, both Gary and Phil Neville would go on to win a multitude of honours with their boyhood club
From winning Euro 92 with unfancied Denmark to scoring beautiful goals, few siblings captivated the world like the Laudrups
Despite facing constant comparisons with such a successful sibling as Eden, Thorgan Hazard has more than carved out a career for himself
Fitting the mould of calcio’s defensive nature, the contrasting styles of Fabio and Paolo would ensure the name Cannavaro was put up in lights
In 2010 Kevin-Prince and Jérôme Boateng would make history as the first brothers to play against one another in an international match
Across almost 20 years, the unmistakable, but equally mistakable, Berezutski twins formed the heart of CSKA Moscow and Russia’s defence
With a surname meaning “golden ball”, one Altıntop would appear for some of the biggest clubs, whilst the other stayed in their birth nation
“I never wanted to beat anyone more than my brother” Gabriel Milito