Top 15 Best Friendships in Football (2023)

Kylian Mbappé and Achraf Hakimi best friendships in football PARIS, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 11: Kylian Mbappe of PSG celebrates his goal with Achraf Hakimi of PSG during the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Clermont Foot 63 at Parc des Princes on September 11, 2021 in Paris, France.
(Photo by John Berry/Getty Images)

Football is a team sport where different players come together to fight for the best interests of the team. Players share memories and moments on/off the pitch and like in every aspect in life, and two people will tend to bond together and spark a very special relationship.
TOP SOCCER BLOG brings you the top 15 football friendships. Sit back and enjoy!

Top 15 Best Friendships in Football (2023)

1. Lionel Messi And Luis Suarez

Lionel Messi and Suarez friendship

Messi and Suarez have established a deep understanding at Barcelona on/off the pitch since the latter’s move from Liverpool.

They formed a fearsome attack with Neymar before the Brazilian left for PSG. Since Neymar’s departure, Messi and Suarez have become even more closer with the friendship also extending to their wives.

Messi’s partner, Antonella Roccuzzo, and Suarez’s partner, Sofia Balbi, jointly own a boutique in Barcelona.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo And Marcelo

Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo

Both players enjoyed a sensational understanding on the pitch during Ronaldo’s time in Madrid and created nightmares for opposing defenders.

The pair also have a special understanding off the pitch too, regularly seen playing pranks on each other in training.

When Ronaldo moved to Juventus, it wasn’t surprising to see him almost luring Marcelo to join him in Turin.

3. Zlatan Ibrahimovic And Maxwell

Zlatan Ibrahimovic And Maxwell best football friends Paris Saint-Germain's Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (C) is congratuled by his teammate Brazilian defender Maxwell after scoring during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain and Nice at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on April 2, 2016. AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE / AFP / FRANCK FIFE
(Photo credit: FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

Their friendship began in 2001 when Ibrahimovic joined Ajax from Malmo. Maxwell helped the Swede in adapting to his new surroundings.

Since then, their relationship continued to wax stronger as they progressed in their careers with both players seemingly following each other around as they went on to play together at Inter Milan, Barcelona and PSG.

4. Moussa Dembele And Jan Vertonghen

Moussa Dembele And Jan Vertonghen best friends in football BRUSSEL, BELGIUM - MARCH 27: Mousa Dembele, Jan Vertonghen of Belgium celebrate the victory following the international friendly match between Belgium and Saudi Arabia on March 27, 2018 in Brussel, Belgium.
(Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

Dembele and Vertonghen have known each other since they were 10-year-olds. Interestingly, Vertonghen scored his first goal for Ajax against Dembele’s AZ Alkmaar from a corner-kick where he was being man-marked by Dembele!

The pair crossed path again at Tottenham but this time around as teammates and would go on to share memorable moments together in North London before Dembele moved to China in January 2019. Both players were also key members of the Belgian national team.

5. Olivier Giroud And Laurent Koscielny

Olivier Giroud And Laurent Koscielny best friends in football METZ, FRANCE - JUNE 4: Olivier Giroud of France congratulates teammate Laurent Koscielny as he scores the 3rd goal for France during the international friendly match between France and Scotland at Stade Saint Symphorien on June 4, 2016 in Metz, France.
(Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

Both Frenchmen enjoy a relationship that stretches all the way back to their time at French second division side, Tours.

Giroud will later join Koscielny (who he fondly calls “Lolo”) at Arsenal in 2012, and both helped the Gunners to F.A Cup triumphs before Giroud joined Chelsea in 2018 and Koscielny moved to Bordeaux in the just concluded transfer window.

6. Gerard Pique And Cesc Fabregas

Gerard Pique And Cesc Fabregas best friends in football SEVILLE, SPAIN - MAY 29: Cesc Fabregas (L) and Gerard Pique of Spain look on during a training session ahead of their international friendly match against Bolivia at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium on May 29, 2014 in Seville, Spain.
(Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Pique and Fabregas have known each other since their days at La Masia( Barcelona’s academy) —alongside Messi.

During their teenage years, Pique almost joined Fabregas at Arsenal but opted to move to Manchester United instead.

They would later line up alongside each other again at their boyhood club, Barcelona.

They enjoyed a trophy-laden spell together at Camp Nou before Fabregas moved to Chelsea. Both are also European and world champions with Spain.

7. Kylian Mbappé and Achraf Hakimi

Kylian Mbappé and Achraf Hakimi best friendships in football PARIS, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 11: Kylian Mbappe of PSG celebrates his goal with Achraf Hakimi of PSG during the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Clermont Foot 63 at Parc des Princes on September 11, 2021 in Paris, France.
(Photo by John Berry/Getty Images)

There is no denying that Kylian Mbappé’s closest friend in PSG is the Moroccan full-back, Achraf Hakimi.

The pair have been good pals since Hakimi joined the club in 2021.

In the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Hakimi and Mbappé squared up against each other when France faced Morocco in semifinals.

Morocco manager Walid Regragui discussed the relationship between Mbappé and Hakimi players have.

“They are more than friends, they are brothers.”

The bromance between the two fast footballers have yielded goals and domestic trophies for PSG.

8. Paul Pogba And Romelu Lukaku

Pogba and Lukaku

Pogba and Lukaku have been friends before their time at Manchester United. They play basketball, holiday and dance together. Pogba was instrumental in the deal that brought Lukaku to Old Trafford.

9. Phillipe Coutinho And Roberto Firmino

Phillipe Coutinho And Roberto Firmino best friends in football SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - OCTOBER 09: Philippe Coutinho of Brazil celebrates with Roberto Firmino after scoring the fifth goal during a match between Brazil and Bolivia as part of South American Qualifiers for Qatar 2022 at Neo Quimica Arena on October 09, 2020 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
(Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

The Brazilians struck a good partnership together on/off the pitch at Liverpool. Coutinho’s transfer to Barcelona didn’t affect their relationship as they are regularly seen partying together.

Firmino once described Coutinho as “one of the best friends football has given me”.

Phillipe Coutinho has since left Liverpool and is currently with Aston Villa in the English Premier League, while Roberto Firmino recently joined Al Ahli in the Saudi Pro League.

10. Mason Mount And Declan Rice

Mason Mount And Declan Rice best friends in football DOHA, QATAR - NOVEMBER 16: Mason Mount and Declan Rice of England take part in an interview during an England Media Session at Al Wakrah Stadium on November 16, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.
(Photo by Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)

Childhood friends who spent six years together at Chelsea’s academy before Rice was released at the age of 14.

Rice moved to West Ham and had a breakthrough campaign last season while Mount, on the other hand, made his progress through the ranks at Chelsea and he is seeking to establish himself in the first team after a successful loan spell at Derby County last season.

The pair have also made their debut for the English national team and would have to put their friendship aside when their respective clubs clash.

Mason Mount joined Manchester United, while Declan Rice joined Arsenal in the 2023 summer transfer window.

11. David Alaba And Franck Ribery

Long term teammates at Bayern Munich, Ribery and Alaba, joined the club in 2007 and 2008 respectively. They have both enjoyed success on and off the pitch.

Although Franck Ribery is now retired and David Alaba has joined Real Madrid, they are still close friends.

12. Mario Götze And Marco Reus

Mario Gotze and Marco Reus

Mario Götze and Marco Reus have one of the best friendships in football.

The German pair made their breakthrough at Borussia Dortmund under the tutelage of Jurgen Klopp, before Gotze later moved to Bayern Munich.

His return to Dortmund surely gladdened Reus’ heart more than anybody else’s.

However, Götze subsequently moved to PSV and then Eintracht Frankfurt, while Marco Reus is still at Dortmund. They are still good friends though.

13. Mesut Özil And Matthieu Flamini

The pair bonded well during Flamini’s time at the Emirates stadium and were regarded as “closer than twins” with Koscielny going as far as saying that “if one goes to the toilet, the second is behind him”.

In fact, in 2022, the former Arsenal team-mates and close friends Mathieu Flamini and Mesut Özil became business partners after setting up a health and wellness company called Unity Performance Lab together.

14. Aubameyang And Lacazette

AUBAMEYANG AND LACAZETTE

Arsenal’s incredible duo of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Lacazette formed not just a deadly strike partnership, but also a special friendship.

When Aubameyang joined Lacazette in North London two years ago, the both of them have formed a special bond both on and off the field.

They can be seen, training together and celebrating goals together.

Aubameyang and Lacazette’s friendship had helped Arsenal in the attacking department. Both players are selfless and are a constant goal threat.

15. Thiago Silva and David Luiz 

Thiago Silva and David Luiz best friends in football

Thiago Silva and David Luiz have one of the best friendships in football today.

The Brazilians were childhood best friends who grew up together. They both played football together and their parents were good neighbors and friends.

The both of them are central defenders and played together at the Brazilian national team

Honourable mentions:

  • Sergio Aguero and Lionel Messi
  • Jadon Sancho and Callum Hudson-Odoi
  • Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard
  • Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi
  • Gareth Bale and Luka Modric
  • Frank Lampard and John Terry
  • David Beckham and Gary Neville
  • Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso
  • Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge.
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