Here Are 8 Sets of Footballers You Didn’t Know Were Related

• Relatives in the football world is a common occurrence
• Whereas there are many football dynasties known, there are sets of brothers, cousins, and uncle/nephew connection you might be less familiar with
• Plenty who watched Georginio Wijnaldum and Rajiv van la Parra play in the Premier League may have done so without realizing the pair are actually brothers

Relatives in the football world is a common occurrence and there are plenty of footballers you didn’t know were related. Whereas there aren’t many cases of brothers who are unknown, there are cases of cousins and also uncle/nephew relationships completely under the radar.

Here, we are going to put aside popular footballing families such as Boateng (Jerome and Kevin-Prince), Neville (Gary and Phil), De Boer (Frank and Ronald) and Toure (Yaya and Kolo), and talk about those that are lesser known by fans.

1. Jay-Jay Okocha And Alex Iwobi

Jay-Jay Okocha is one of the greatest African footballers of all time. The Nigerian played for some of Europe’s top clubs including Eintracht Frankfurt and PSG. Well, what many people do not know is that Okocha is the uncle of current Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi. The Nigerian playmaker graduated from Arsenal’s academy where he burst onto the scene due to his impressive and intelligent displays.

Jay-Jay Okocha and Alex Iwobi. Photo/ YouTube.

2. Joel Matip And Joseph-Desire Job

Next on our list of footballers you didn’t know were related are Joe Matip and Joseph-Desire Job. Matip is well known by football fans as he plays for one of the biggest clubs in the world, Liverpool. Meanwhile, Job isn’t so popular even though he spent six years playing for English club Middlesbrough. Job, who is currently retired, scored one of the goals in the 2004 League Cup final as Middlesbrough won their first ever trophy.

3. Luka Modric And Mark Viduka 

Despite the success of Luka Modric and Mark Viduka on the pitch, it may have passed many people that the two are actually blood relatives. According to reports, Viduka’s father and Modric’s father are first cousins. Viduka’s father was born in Croatia before relocating to Australia, where the former Leeds player was born.

4. Andre Onana And Fabrice Ondoa

Andre Onana and Fabrice Ondoa. Photo/ The Mail & Guardian.

Andre Onana and Fabrice Ondoa are the other set of footballers you didn’t know were related. Whereas Onana is a popular figure in the football world, Ondoa is only familiar to fans of the teams he has played for. Both started their careers at Barcelona in the Samuel Eto’o academy but Ondoa’s career has been far more nomadic – playing for clubs in Belgium, Croatia and Latvia.

Onana and Ondoa have made headlines at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, with the Manchester United keeper being benched and Ondoa preferred over him.

5. Georginio Wijnaldum And Rajiv van la Parra

Most brothers in the football world have known each other from birth, but that’s not the case with Georginio Wijnaldum and Rajiv van la Parra. Whereas Wijnaldum knew he had a half-brother, he never met him until during a youth football game while he was playing for Sparta Rotterdam. The two later became close after Wijnaldum was scouted by Feyenoord.

Georginio Wijnaldum and Rajiv van la Parra. Photo/ The Times.

6. Kaka And Digao 

At one point, Kaka was the best footballer in the world. Whereas he had a successful career playing for clubs such as AC Milan and Real Madrid, his younger brother Digao cannot relate. Digao began his career at Milan but would retire after a difficult stint at New York Red Bulls.

7. Seydou Keita And Mohamed Sissoko 

Africa’s football legend Salif Keita has seen his lineage continue in two of his nephews – Seydou Keita and Mohamed Sissoko. The cousins have won over 20 pieces of silverware playing at the top level. Whereas Keita is best known for his time with FC Barcelona and Roma, Sissoko had a nomadic career playing for clubs such as Valencia Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Juventus. Keita and Sissoko are among the sets of footballers you didn’t know were related.

Seydou Keita. Photo/ Transfermarket.

8. Lua Lua Brothers And Yannick Bolasie 

Only 17 footballers hailing from the Democratic Republic of Congo have played for Premier League teams, and three of them are related. Lomana Lua Lua and Kazenga Lua Lua are brothers who played for clubs at the England’s top flight.

The two are cousins to Yannick Bolasie, who is the most popular footballer in the family. Whereas Bolasie is know for his spells at Crystal Palace and Everton, Lomana (who is the most prominent of the Lua Lua brothers) played for Newcastle United and Portsmouth.