Obviously, football as a sport goes from generation to generation. And it stands as a channel to meet friends, lovers, and the rest. There are some football players who are childhood friends. Football is many things in the world of sport.

Of course, there are many players who find their best friends in football during their professional careers. However, it’s different from childhood friends.

Footballers are fond of flaunting their best friends in one way or another. However, football players who are childhood friends started their youth careers in the same country.

In most cases, they started their youth careers at the same club. That’s how they became attached to each other, always wanting to be there for each other.

It’s one thing for a player to have a childhood friend during his youth career. It’s another thing to be raised in the same community or town.

For instance, John Terry and Frank Lampard weren’t really childhood friends. However, they built something amazing throughout their careers at Chelsea.

Meanwhile, Lionel Messi and Sergio Agüero are one of the football players who are childhood friends. Because they literally started their careers in the same year.

The former Manchester City striker never for once hide his affection for the 2022 FIFA World Cup champion. That’s enough to know that they shared something from their early days.

Also, Cristiano Ronaldo’s closest friend is known as Albert Fantrau. And the Portuguese magnifico usually heaps high praise on him, as they have been together through thick and thin.

However, João Mário is Ronaldo’s childhood friend. And they both played for the Portugal national team many times, making many appearances together.

This particular article isn’t about players who became friends during their time together at the club. However, it’s about footballers who grew up together in the same town or club.

Who are those football players who are childhood friends? 

Mario Götze & Marco Reus (Germans) 

These football players never hide their affection for each other during their time together at Borussia Dortmund. They do celebrate goals together on the pitch.

Mario Götze and Marco Reus started their youth careers together at Borussia Dortmund. Which means they grew up together at the club.

They are childhood friends, even though Reus came to Dortmund’s academy before Götze. Nevertheless, they had many histories together as football players.

Amazingly, they are now playing for a different team. Marco continues to play for Borussia Dortmund, while Mario is currently playing for Eintracht Frankfurt.

Regardless, they both continue to play in the Bundesliga (Germany). Also, they played many times together on the Germany national team.

2. Christian Pulisic & Weston McKennie (Americans)

The American professional footballers didn’t start their youth careers together at the same club. However, they are one of the football players who are childhood friends.

Christian Pulisic joined the Borussia Dortmund academy in 2015. While, Weston McKennie joined Schalke 04 in 2016. Which means they both moved to Germany.

At the same time, the two Americans played together for the United States of America U17. Before they joined the senior national team.

Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie have won many games for the USMNT. And they always celebrate goals together, having watched them play together on the pitch.

Surprisingly, they both shared some amazing connections in Qatar in 2022. As regards the 2022 FIFA World Cup, they linked up brilliantly, helping the USMNT.

3. Christian Benteke & Eden Hazard (Belgians)

Many football fans don’t know that Hazard and Benteke were childhood friends. And they are both making headlines in the world of football.

The two star players are from the same country, and started their careers at different clubs, but in Belgium. That was before Eden left for France to join the Lille academy in 2005.

Christian Benteke and Eden Hazard never played for the same team at club level. However, they both dazzled impressively in the Premier League in England.

Chelsea almost signed Benteke from Liverpool. Because they want them to share the same connection they do with the Belgium national team.

Christian and Eden won many matches for Belgium. And they do follow each other around in training, laughing and joking together.

4. Philippe Coutinho & Neymar (Brazilians)

Both played for Brazil U17 and made the national team together in 2010. They came from the same country, despite starting their youth careers at different clubs.

Interestingly, Barcelona signed Philippe Coutinho in 2018. As Neymar left for Paris Saint-Germain in 2017. They almost became teammates at Camp Nou.

Philippe Coutinho & Neymar are one of the football players who are childhood friends. They had a history together, both on and off the pitch, as mutual friends.

Also, they seem to have many things in common as regards their style of play. Neymar and Coutinho are brilliant dribblers, fond of wreaking havoc inside the opponent’s box.

Apart from outside football, these two Brazilians have always connected for the Brazil national team. They understood each other better on the pitch.

5. João Mário & Cristiano Ronaldo (Portuguese)

The Benfica’s midfielder always refers to Cristiano Ronaldo as his good friend. Which means they had a history from their childhood, growing up together.

João Mário and Cristiano Ronaldo started their youth careers at Sporting CP. However, the Ballon D’or winner left the club, before the 30-year-old Portuguese arrived at the club’s academy.

Meanwhile, they shared many memories together, both on and off the pitch. And they both won many games together for the Portugal national team.

João Mário almost helped Inter Milan sign Ronaldo when he was at Real Madrid. He was hell-bent on bringing Cristiano to Serie A, however, he later joined Juventus.

Amazingly, the Benfica’s midfielder and his childhood friend are still playing for the Portugal national team. As they keep building their friendship.

6. Kevin De Bruyne & Divock Origi (Belgians)

The two Belgians started their youth careers together at Genk in Belgium. Obviously, they are another one of the football players who are childhood friends.

The AC Milan and Manchester City superstars didn’t play at the same club in their senior careers. However, they both dazzled flawlessly in the Premier League.

Kevin De Bruyne & Divock Origi grew up together at Genk. As a result, they had a history together both on and off the pitch, always moving together.

Of course, Origi and De Bruyne are known for their special connection on the pitch for the Belgium national team. Also, they do celebrate goals, winning games.

Despite the level of rivalry between Manchester City and Liverpool. The two players usually end up gisting, after the game when he was still at Anfield.

7. Mason Mount & Declan Rice (Englishmen)

The two English midfielders never hide their affection for each other. Of course, they have a history of doing things together, spending summer holidays together.

Apparently, Mason Mount & Declan Rice grew up together at Chelsea. Even though the defensive midfielder later left Cobham and moved to West Ham United.

The West London club are now running hither and thither, wanting to bring Declan Rice back to Stamford Bridge. However, they may face competition from Arsenal and other clubs.

As regards Mount and Rice’s childhood relationship. They were both called up to the England national team in the same year, which was 2019.

The two Englishmen also have special connections on the pitch. As regards their positions, they play next to each other for Gareth Southgate.

8. Sergio Agüero & Lionel Messi (Argentines)

The seventh Ballon D’or winner and his childhood friend won many games for the Argentina national team. They shared many things together.

Of course, Sergio Agüero didn’t hide his love for Lionel Messi. He always stands up on social media, defending his best friend against any kind of insult or abuse.

Sergio Agüero & Lionel Messi started their youth careers at different clubs. However, they grew up together in the Argentina national team, playing together.

In 2021, the former Manchester City striker joined Barcelona, so as to be able to play alongside the 2022 FIFA World Cup champion. However, everything went sideways.

Unfortunately, Lionel Messi left for Paris Saint-Germain, because he couldn’t extend his contract with the Culers. Agüero was seriously pissed off.

9. Cesc Fàbregas & Gerard Piqué (Spaniards) 

The two Spanish footballers started together at Barcelona. As a result, they are childhood friends, growing up together at the Bluagranas academy.

Surprisingly, they later went ahead and joined different youth academies. However, they both ended up in England, having left the Barcelona academy to move forward.

Cesc Fàbregas joined the Arsenal academy in 2003, and Gerard Piqué joined the Manchester United academy in 2004. They both ended up in England, pursuing their careers.

In the midst of many Spanish youth players at Barcelona. Fàbregas and Piqué were attached to one another, because they were childhood friends, growing up together.

In 2011, when Cesc Fàbregas rejoined Barcelona. It was reported that Gerard Piqué was behind his transfer to Camp Nou, wanting his childhood friend in the squad.

10. Serge Gnabry & Joshua Kimmich (Germans)

The German footballers started their youth careers differently. However, they are childhood friends, and their connection to the Germany national team reveals everything.

Serge Gnabry and Joshua Kimmich were called up to the national team in the same year, which was 2016. As they keep making waves in the world of football.

Amazingly, the two star players are now playing for the same club, Bayern Munich. They have won many games together for the Bavarians in all competitions.

Gnabry and Kimmich have won many trophies together at Bayern Munich. And they continue their relationship both off and on the pitch.

Even though they grew up at different clubs during their youth careers. They are now making headlines for the Bavarians in the Bundesliga.