Numerous football enthusiasts know that both Messi and Ronaldo have sons seriously involved in the sport, and soon we may have the opportunity to watch them compete at a high level. However, the offspring of other football legends have also followed in their fathers’ footsteps and achieved success—sometimes even greater accomplishment.
Peter and Kasper Schmeichel
Peter Schmeichel is regarded as one of the finest goalkeepers in football history, although initially listed as a forward for the Danish club Hvidovre and even netting six goals. Only later did he switch to the goalkeeper position and transfer to the local giant Brøndby. English clubs showed interest in the custodian as early as the late 80s, but Peter only arrived at Manchester United in 1991. At the British top club, he became an icon, securing five national championships.
In 1992, Schmeichel triumphed with the Danish national team at the European Championship, even though this outcome was not originally foreseen. The national squad qualified for the tournament fortuitously because Yugoslavia, which had earned its spot, was disqualified for political reasons. This victory brought Peter not only the European title but also the recognition as the world’s premier goalkeeper.
He concluded his career with United’s bitter rival, Manchester City. It was there that the elder Schmeichel placed his son Kasper into the club’s academy—the younger one followed his father’s path and became a keeper. He played only a few matches for City, mostly during loan spells in the lower English divisions.
In 2011, Kasper found himself at Leicester City, with whom he was destined to reshape British football history. In 2014, the club won the Championship (the second-tier league), secured their place in the top division the following season, and in 2016, sensationally clinched the English Premier League title. Thanks to the younger Schmeichel, Leicester debuted in the Champions League and advanced to the quarterfinals. In 2021, Kasper lifted the FA Cup and the FA Community Shield, and in 2022, he moved to the French side Nice. Currently, the goalkeeper represents Scottish club Celtic and remains the primary custodian for the Danish national team at age 39.
Lilian, Marcus, and Khephren Thuram
Lilian Thuram is a legendary French footballer who, in his youth, intended to become a Catholic priest but discovered his athletic potential. His professional career commenced at Monaco in 1991. It was there he established himself as a top-tier defender and earned a call-up to the French national team.
He achieved fame in Italy—from 1996, Lilian played for Parma. By that time, Thuram was a key player for the national squad. As a defender, he very seldom threatened the opponent’s goal, scoring only two goals throughout his international career—a brace against Croatia in the 1998 World Cup semi-final (2-1). Thuram’s goals propelled France to the final and secured the tournament win. Two years later, the defender helped the national team consolidate their success by winning the European Championship.
In 2001, Lilian moved to Juventus, where he won the Italian championship four times. However, following the match-fixing scandal, the “Old Lady” was relegated, and in 2006, Thuram transferred to Barcelona. After two seasons with the Spanish giant, he returned to France, intending to sign with PSG. But a medical examination in Paris revealed heart issues, and the defender ended his playing career at 36.
Thuram’s sons were born in Italy while he was playing for Parma. Unlike their father, who was a prime defender, his children occupy different roles on the pitch: Marcus is a forward, and Khephren is a midfielder. Incidentally, Lilian has another relative—Yohann—who covered the vacant role in the family by playing as a goalkeeper.
The elder son started with French clubs Sochaux and Guingamp, before moving to Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2019, where he showed strong performances. In 2022, he traveled with the French national team to the World Cup and provided an assist in the final. Although the national side did not ultimately conquer the tournament, Marcus transferred to Inter Milan on the back of the season. This club is a direct rival of Juventus, where his father played for a long time. At Inter, he became the spearhead of the attack: in 2023, he won the Italian championship and reached the Champions League final in 2025.
The youngest Thuram, Khephren, went through the Monaco academy, just like his father, but failed to secure a regular spot in the main team. In 2019, he moved to Nice, where he became the main star. In 2023, Khephren debuted for the French national team and played alongside his brother. A year later, the young midfielder (again like his dad) transferred to Juventus, where he is establishing himself in the squad.
Alf-Inge and Erling Haaland
Alf-Inge Haaland was not a globally celebrated athlete but became a crucial footballer for the Norwegian national team—in 1994, he helped his nation qualify for their first World Cup in nearly 60 years. The defender began his career in his homeland, moving to the English Premier League’s Nottingham Forest in 1993. Four years later, he joined Leeds United and anchored the defense of one of the league’s most robust back lines.
In September 1997, during a derby against Manchester United, Haaland collided with Roy Keane, injuring the opponent’s captain. He assumed the Irishman was feigning injury and urged him to rise. However, Keane was stretchered off the pitch—Roy required almost a year for recovery. In 2000, Haaland moved to Manchester City. A year later, in the Manchester derby, Keane, not having forgotten the previous injury, delivered a studs-up tackle to the Norwegian’s right knee, resulting in a sending-off. It was rumored that Haaland prematurely ended his career due to this very injury, though the footballer himself denies this account.
After concluding his playing days, Alf-Inge dedicated himself to nurturing the future footballer. And the defender’s son, Erling, managed to fulfill all of his father’s aspirations by the age of 25. The forward attracted attention while playing in Norway, and in 2019, he moved to Red Bull Salzburg. In just half a season, he became the primary target for many European football giants, scoring 29 goals, including hat-tricks against Genk and Liverpool, and a brace against Napoli in the Champions League.
Six months later, Erling switched to Borussia Dortmund, where he won the German Cup. While team silverware was modest, Haaland personally broke numerous records. For example, he was the first substitute to score a hat-trick on his debut, netted 23 goals in 22 matches—surpassing Uwe Seeler’s long-standing record—and became the first player in CL history to score at least two goals in four consecutive matches.
In 2022, Haaland transferred to his father’s last club—Manchester City—winning the treble in his debut season. It was with his arrival that Pep Guardiola first conquered the Champions League with an English side. While wearing the sky-blue shirt, Erling set a new record for the most goals in an EPL season—36 scored strikes. Haaland is acknowledged as one of the leading forwards of his generation and is replicating significant results for his national team, mirroring his father’s achievements. For the first time since 1998, Norway qualified for the 2026 World Cup—the last time they participated was when Alf-Inge was also on the roster.
Cesare and Paolo Maldini
Cesare Maldini is one of the most significant figures in old Italian football. In 1954, he joined Milan and became its legend—over 12 seasons, the defender amassed 412 appearances. Besides four league titles with the Rossoneri, in 1963, the club, with Cesare anchoring the defense, lifted the European Champion Clubs’ Cup, the first for an Italian team. Maldini’s international career was less remarkable—he played only 14 matches for the national squad. Yet, his authority was so high that, despite not being a starting player, he always wore the captain’s armband during matches.
After his playing career ended, Cesare became a coach. Maldini’s greatest club success as a manager came at Milan—in 1973, the Rossoneri secured the Coppa Italia and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup under his guidance. From 1980 to 1986, he served as Enzo Bearzot’s assistant in the Italian national team, after which he immediately took charge of the youth squad. A few years later, he guided them to three European Under-21 Championships—in 1992, 1994, and 1996. Following the last of these triumphs, he became the coach of the senior national team, reaching the quarterfinals of the 1998 World Cup. Maldini’s final role was managing the Paraguay national team, with whom he made a surprising run to the playoffs.
His son, Paolo, dreamed from childhood of following in his father’s footsteps and playing for Milan. Maldini started in the Rossoneri academy and debuted for the club at 16 years and 209 days old, remaining Milan’s youngest Serie A participant to this day.
While Cesare was an Italian football legend, Paolo became a global star. He spent nearly twice as many years at Milan as his father—from 1984 to 2009. He claimed the Italian championship seven times and the Champions League five times. Paolo played over a thousand official matches, scored the fastest goal in CL history against Liverpool, and was repeatedly recognized as Europe’s defender of the year. However, major international team tournaments eluded him. He earned two silver and two bronze medals, retiring from the national team four years before Italy’s ultimate triumph—the 2006 World Cup victory.
The Maldini dynasty continues today. Paolo’s sons, Christian and Daniel, are professional footballers. The elder’s career didn’t flourish, and at 27, he became an agent. Daniel, by age 24, has broken into the Atalanta squad, and in 2024, he made his first appearance for the Italian national team.
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