Famous football brothers including the Bellinghams, Toures, Nevilles & more

There are few more special sights in the world of football than two brothers sharing the same pitch.

Over the years, there have been many distinguished brothers to have played football at the highest level, both for the same team and as direct opponents.

With Sunderland's Jobe Bellingham seemingly on an unstoppable trajectory towards the top of the sport, where he may be destined to rub shoulders with his Real Madrid megastar sibling Jude, we take a look back at football's most famous brothers.

The Bellinghams

Jude Bellingham & Jobe Bellingham

Born two years before brother Jobe, Jude Bellingham is one of the most gifted young footballers England has ever produced.

Developing through the youth ranks at hometown club Birmingham City, the elder of the two brothers took the plunge to move over to Germany with Borussia Dortmund amidst transfer interest from a host of Europe's biggest clubs.

Proving a huge hit in the Bundesliga with Dortmund, there were only a few loftier stages for Jude Bellingham to reach.

He eventually plumped for a transfer to Real Madrid worth an initial £88.5m, in a move which has already been paid off with Bellingham an instant hit at the Santiago Bernabeu and already a UEFA Champions League winner with Los Blancos.

As for younger brother Jobe, his progression also continues to move quickly following his move from Birmingham to Sunderland in the summer of 2023.

Part of an exciting young, dynamic squad under Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris, the Black Cats have found themselves launching an unexpected promotion charge to the riches of the Premier League.

At this rate, it seems only a matter of time before the Bellingham brothers are England teammates.

The Toures

Yaya Toure & Kolo Toure

A brotherly connection immortalised by a world-renowned terrace chant, Yaya and Kolo Toure are two of Africa's most famous footballing sons.

Older brother Kolo's big break in the sport came following a legendary trial in North London in 2002.

A tough-tackling defender eager to impress, Kolo Toure crunched into not only Arsenal's talismanic attacking duo of Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp, but the man he was most required to impress - Gunners manager Arsene Wenger.

Taken in by his endeavour and enthusiasm, Wenger opted to sign the defender for a measly £150,000 in what would go down as one of his best ever signings.

For all of Kolo Toure's competitive aggression, his younger brother Yaya was the true naturally gifted talent.

He too earned a trial at Arsenal, but Yaya's career would take a different trajectory. Spending time in both Ukraine and Greece, Yaya eventually made his mark in Ligue 1 with Monaco before landing a move to Barcelona.

Both forging hugely successful careers in their own right, Kolo and Yaya Toure became teammates internationally for Ivory Coast and at club level for Manchester City.

In 2015, Yaya would captain Ivory Coast to their first Africa Cup of Nations title in 23 years with brother Kolo by his side.

The Nevilles

Gary Neville & Phil Neville

Looking back, it is incredible to think Manchester United's famous academy 'Class of 92' was able to produce six first team stars from the same cohort.

Even more so when you consider two came from the same household.

Elder brother Gary, and the younger of the two Phil, were far from the most talented young players to have come through the youth ranks at Old Trafford.

What the Nevilles may have lacked in technical skill they more than made up for in dedication and heart, however, with the pair going on to clock over 900 appearances between them.

Both developing into full-backs, Gary enjoyed a one-club career with Man Utd over the course of 19 years, winning eight Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues.

Phil, also part of United's Treble-winning team of 1999, would eventually leave the Red Devils for Everton in 2005, where he would become club captain in a successful eight-year stint.

The De Boers

Frank de Boer and Ronald de Boer

Arguably the most famous footballing twins of all time, Frank and Ronald de Boer's names are both etched firmly into the history books of Dutch football.

Not only identical genetically, the De Boer brothers would follow very similar career paths, spending time as teammates for Ajax, Barcelona and Rangers as well as the Dutch national team.

As far as their styles of play were concerned, however, the De Boer brothers were rather different.

Frank was a defender, very much a product of the Dutch Total Football school with regard to his ability to play out from the back both as a central defender and left-back.

Ronald, on the other hand, was a naturally forward-thinking player, who either operated as an attacking midfielder in between the lines or up front.

Both Frank and Ronald de Boer were members of the famous Ajax side which won the UEFA Champions League in 1995, and between them they accrued a total of 179 international caps for the Netherlands.

The Laudrups

Michael Laudrup & Brian Laudrup

Sons of Danish international forward Finn Laudrup, Michael and Brian must surely go down as two of the most technically gifted footballers Denmark has ever produced.

Older brother Michael has a credible claim to represent the greatest Danish player ever, if you discount goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel.

A cultured midfielder, Michael Laudrup enjoyed a phenomenal career which saw him represent a number of Europe's biggest clubs - winning the European Cup with Barcelona in 1992 before a shock move to rivals Real Madrid two years later.

Although he went on to enjoy a distinguished international career, amassing 104 caps, Michael would infamously miss out on Denmark's finest hour.

Refusing to play for his country at Euro 1992 in Sweden amidst a dispute with manager Richard Moller Nielsen, a Denmark team including his younger brother Brian went on to sensationally lift the trophy against all odds.

Brian, who typically operated in more advanced areas than his older brother, is a club legend at Rangers - winning five major trophies at Ibrox between 1994 and 1998.