Sharing a dressing room in a senior national team is a privilege that very few brothers have ever had the chance to experience throughout the history of football.

Thomas Tuchel’s recent squad announcement for England ahead of the November international break brought this phenomenon back into the spotlight by bringing Jobe and Jude Bellingham together for the first time at senior level.

However, the list becomes even more exclusive when this particular milestone is linked to the history of the Ballon d'Or.

Only seven pairs of brothers have managed to represent the same country whilst also having their surname featured amongst the nominees or winners of the most prestigious award.

Brothers who played for the same national team and have a history with the Ballon d'Or

  • Jack and Bobby Charlton (England)

  • Michael and Brian Laudrup (Denmark)

  • Frank and Ronald de Boer (Netherlands)

  • Yaya and Kolo Touré (Ivory Coast)

  • Eden and Thorgan Hazard (Belgium)

  • Alexis and Kevin Mac Allister (Argentina)

  • Jude and Jobe Bellingham (England)

Jack and Bobby Charlton (England)

The Charlton brothers represent the gold standard par excellence within this select group.

Both were indispensable members of the England starting line-up that won the 1966 World Cup at Wembley, writing the most glorious chapter in their country’s footballing history.

On an individual level, the impact both had on the Ballon d'Or voting was on a par with that World Cup triumph.

Bobby Charlton was a constant presence amongst the world’s best, racking up nine Ballon d'Or nominations, and was crowned the winner of the golden trophy in 1966 after leading the Three Lions to the title.

For his part, Jack Charlton also earned the voters’ recognition thanks to his defensive solidity and leadership in the box.

The defender recorded two official Ballon d'Or nominations throughout his career, achieving his best result in the 1969 edition, when he finished 10th in the overall rankings.

Michael and Brian Laudrup (Denmark)

In Denmark, the surname Laudrup is synonymous with the national team’s most glorious era. During the 1980s and 1990s, Michael and Brian spearheaded the golden generation of Danish football.

The brothers left their mark on unforgettable tournaments such as the 1992 European Championship victory and the memorable 1998 World Cup in France, where they both led their country to the quarter-finals.

The talent of the two brothers is clearly reflected in the Ballon d'Or record books, where they have a combined total of 13 nominations.

Michael Laudrup was nominated on 10 occasions throughout his career, achieving his best ranking in 1983 when he finished fourth in the world.

Brian, meanwhile, made three appearances amongst the nominees and reached his personal best in 1992, the year in which he came sixth after lifting the continental trophy with his national team.

Frank and Ronald de Boer (Netherlands)

During the 1990s, Frank and Ronald de Boer were two cornerstones of a Orange Machine brimming with generational talent.

The twins shared a dressing room and the limelight at the Netherlands’ major international tournaments, shining particularly brightly at the 1998 World Cup in France, where they reached the semi-finals.

Both brothers also had the distinction of being nominated twice each for theBallon d'Or during their professional careers.

The highlight for both came in 1998, spurred on by their outstanding World Cup performance.

In that year’s Ballon d’Or, Frank de Boer finished 11th in the voting, whilst Ronald de Boer came 21st.

Yaya and Kolo Touré (Ivory Coast)

Yaya and Kolo Touré were the backbone of the golden generation that transformed the Ivory Coast into a powerhouse of African football.

Together they played in three consecutive World Cups (2006, 2010 and 2014) and led the Elephants to victory in the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015, settling a historic debt with their country.

Furthermore, both the midfielder and the centre-back saw their careers recognised with official nominations for the Ballon d'Or.

Yaya Touré was the family’s leading individual figure, racking up five nominations and achieving his best result on three separate occasions by finishing 12th in 2012, 2013 and 2015.

Kolo Touré, who was a defensive mainstay at Arsenal, also made the list by securing a nomination in 2007.

Eden and Thorgan Hazard (Belgium)

The Hazard brothers were part of the most successful era in the history of Belgium’s Red Devils.

Eden and Thorgan were both called up and featured in multiple knockout stages of major tournaments, playing a direct part in Belgium’s historic third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Within this family partnership, it was Eden who was repeatedly in the running for the most prestigious award.

Thanks to his ability to turn games on their head and his status at the very highest level, the former Chelsea player racked up six Ballon d'Or nominations throughout his career.

In fact, on two occasions, he finished in the global top 10. His best-ever ranking was 8th place in the 2015 and 2018 editions.

Alexis and Kevin Mac Allister (Argentina)

The Argentina national team added its own recent chapter to this family tradition when Alexis and Kevin Mac Allister were both called up to the Albiceleste squad.

Alexis has established himself as an indispensable figure in the Argentine midfield, playing a decisive role in the international successes of the national team’s most glorious era in decades.

As a result of his consistent performances for both Argentina and his club, Alexis Mac Allister secured a place on the official shortlist for the Ballon d'Or in 2025.

Jude and Jobe Bellingham (England)

The most recent chapter in this story features Jude and Jobe Bellingham, who were called up by Thomas Tuchel to represent England during the November international break.

Whilst Jobe is taking his first steps with the senior side, buoyed by his impressive form in Europe, Jude has already established himself as the leading footballing figure of his generation.

Indeed, his impact at the highest level has made him a regular at the Ballon d’Or ceremonies from a very young age.

Jude Bellingham has 4 Ballon d'Or nominations to his name and already knows what it’s like to take to the stage after winning the Young Talent of the Year award in 2023.

What’s more, as if that weren’t enough, in the 2024 edition he finished third in the global rankings.

Outside the realm of the Ballon d'Or, football history also records other iconic cases of brothers who played for the same national team but were not nominated for the award.

Gary and Phil Neville for England, Lucas and Theo Hernández for France, and Giovani and Jonathan dos Santos for Mexico are some of the best-known examples.

Who will be next on the list?