World Football's Top 30 Footballing Twins

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After watching Manchester United's twins have their way with Arsenal's defense, I wanted to look up some current—and past—footballing twins. 

While some of the twins on this list aren't very accomplished, or even known, they deserve a moment in the limelight.

Here is the list of the top 30 footballing twins.

Hamit and Halil Altıntop

Hamit Altıntop, born Dec. 8, 1982, is 10 minutes younger than his twin brother Halil.  These German-born Turkish national footballers both play in the Bundesliga.

Halil currently plays for Eintracht Frankfurt, and his identical twin Hamit plays for Bayern Munich. 

Hopefully, they can leave any on-field problems behind over some Kebab.

Vasili and Aleksei Berezutski

Born June 20, 1982, Aleksei and Vasili Berezutski have formed the backbone of the PFC CSKA Moskva and Russian defense for many years.

Strong, brave and happy to play anywhere across the back line, the Vasili brothers—at 6'2" and 180 pounds each—are not just intimidating because they're Russian.

They are the types of players you wouldn't want to meet in a back alley, let alone a football pitch.

Guillermo and Gustavo Barros Schelotto

These Argentinean twins were born May 4, 1973.  Guillermo might have been more widely known because of his experience in the MLS with the Columbus Crew. However, these twins were a formidable due during their footballing years at Boca Juniors and Gimnasia. 

Gustavo followed his brother's move to the United States, but not the MLS.  While the USL is certainy not the MLS, Gustavo still managed three goals in his 23 appearances.

Adam and James Chambers

The above picture is of James Chambers, being that pictures of the twins together was hard to find.

Adam Chambers' early career mirrored that of his twin brother James.  Both played for Grove Vale F.C., whom they joined in 1996, before signing for West Bromich Albion as apprentices in July 1997. 

After progressing through Albion's youth system, both twins turned professional in January 1999.  In the 1998-99 season, they became the first twins to represent England at any level when they appeared together during the World Youth Tournament in Nigeria.

Marcin and Michał Żewłakow

Born April 22, 1976, Michał Żewłakow is a defender for Ankaragucu.  His twin brother Marcin, who plays for GKS Belchatow, is a striker.

They became the first twins ever to play together for Poland when they were picked in the starting lineup to face France in February 2000, and they were teammates at the 2002 World Cup.

Cristian and Damiano Zenoni

I'm guessing that the brother on the left was more a Titanic/Leonardo Dicaprio fan, while his twin looks more like the Fight Club/Brad Pitt type.

Ahh, the 90's.

Jorge and Julio Dely Valdés

The above pictured is Jorge; either he doesn't get along with his brother, or pictures of the two together are just hard to find.

Born on March 12, 1967, these Panamanian national team twins both played up top.  The 36 goals at the national level between the twins were probably made easier thanks to their telepathic twin connection.

Lukáš and Tomáš Došek

On Sept. 12, 1978, the Czech Republic was fortunate enough to be blessed with the Dosek twins.

Information on the Czech twins is like digging up dirt on the KGB, however.

They played together at SK Slavia Praha from 1999 to 2004, at the international level for the Czech Republic under-21 team and with the Czech national team.

I'm not sure which one is which, but one of them is a striker and the other a defender.

Jeroen and Henrico Drost

Born Jan. 21, 1987 in the Netherlands, these defensive brothers both ply their trade in the Dutch league.

At only 24 years old, the Drost twins could have the potential to be around for years to come. 

However, their hobby of performing as Dutch Harry Potter twins might be taking valuable time away from the pitch.

Antonio and Emanuele Filippini

Born in Italy on July 3, 1973, the Fillippini brothers have played together at six different clubs.

All this time spent together, I'm still not sure why Antonio is running away from his brother...

Miguel and Javier Flaño

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Born on the August 19, 1984 in Pamplona Spain, the Flano brothers spent four years playing together at CA Osasuna in La Liga BBVA.

Sanna and Sainey Nyassi

Gambian born 21-year old footballers, Sanna and Sainey both play in the MLS.

How nice it must be for Sainey to receive his sweaty brothers shirt.

Phil and Tracey Neville

Yes, I know Gary and Phil aren't twins; they are brothers. 

But imagine this, Neville Neville—yes, their father—also gave birth to a daughter. Tracy Neville is Phil's twin sister. 

I couldn't find pictures of Phil and Tracy, but imagine a combination of Gary and Phil's features on a girl....ouch.

Andreas and Thomas Ravelli

This picture is creepy, like The Shining-with-Jack-Nicholson creepy.

Thomas Ravelli was a great Swedish goalkeeper, and having his twin brother Andreas play center back probably helped him keep some clean sheets.

David and Dean Holdsworth

David and Dean Holdsworth are not like most twins.  Born Nov. 8, 1968, David and Dean are almost polar opposites.

David is very serious, where as Dean is incorrigibly flippant.

Both of these former players are now managers in the same division.  I have a feeling that could make for interesting post-match press conferences after they play against each other.



Ebbe and Peter Sand

Pictured is Ebbe Sand; Peter is the less famous twin brother.

Opposition fans in Denmark would often chant "Du ligner Ebbe Sand" (You look like Ebbe Sand) when he was playing.

Both brothers played at Brøndby IF, though Peter did not play any first team games for the club.

Yuto and Hisato Sato

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Pictured above is Japanese footballer Hisato Sato.  Born March 12, 1982, 29 year old Hisato plays in the J-League with his twin brother Yuto.

Hisato plays for Sanfrecce Hiroshima and has netted over 100 goals in 200 appearances.

Yuto is currently fighting for promotion to the J-League 1st Division with JEF United Ichihara Chiba.

Frank and Ronald De Boer

Dutch duo Frank and Ronald de Boer were born May 15, 1970.

One of the more successful set of twins on this list, these twins have played together at Barcelona, Rangers and Ajax.

Adam and Joel Griffiths

Born August 21, 1979, its probably safe to say that these Australian twins are probably tearing the Chinese league apart.

Hossam and Ibrahim Hassan

These Egyptian twins have played at the same level, and for the same clubs, as each other for most of their careers.

Both twins played into their early 40s, even more proof that Falafel is the food of Gods.

Erwin and Helmut Kremers

They are both German, and they both apparently loved the Beach Boys.

Kazuyuki and Kōji Morisaki

It would be every man's dream if these Japanese footballing twins were female.

Maksym and Pavlo Pashayev

Shown above is Ukrainian Maksym Pashayev, he unfortunately died in a car crash in 2008 at the age of 20.

 

Thoughts to his twin.

Philipp and David Degen

The Swiss born Degen brothers are pure class and pure Euro-trash, all at the same time.

Eissa Meer and Ibrahim Meer

These United Arabs Emirates twins were born in 1967, and that's all the UAE will allow me to know.

Dennis and Gérard de Nooijer

This is the third set of Dutch twins on the list.  Maybe more Dutch citizens should be involved in unfortunate "schmelting" accidents.  I am from Holland, isn't that vierd? Yesh!

Arnar and Bjarki Gunnlaugsson

When I heard that these twins were Icelandic and weren't Eidur Gudjohnsen, I was seriously confused and amazed.  Who knew that Iceland had professional footballers other than Gudjohnsen.

Flavio and Marco Paixao

Obviously when these Portuguese twins aren't playing football, they are going "from the windows, to the wall."

Lars and Sven Bender

Lars " We wahn da cup" Sven "dahhh iz becuaz we ahre German"

Seriously though, these 21 year old twins are going to be brilliant players in the future.

Rafael and Fabio Pereira da Silva

Sir Alex Ferguson joked he would get around Rafael Da Silva's suspension against Birmingham by playing him and pretending it's his twin brother Fabio. 

Fortunately enough, Fabio is proving just as valuable as an asset as his Brazilian twin brother.

These two Brazilians are shaping up to be the future of United and Brazil.

Fabio and Rafael might have been the surprise inclusion on the United side that battered Arsenal, but the first-team selection headache they will cause Sir Alex Ferguson from here on out will certainly come as no surprise.