All over the world, there are millions of young children who want to follow in their parents’ footsteps when they grow up, and it seems in football there is no difference.
Jn most of the father-son duos we have witnessed, it is usually one party that is vastly more successful in football. For example, in the case of Johan and Jordi Cruyff, the former was one of the most influential figures whilst his son played for FC Barcelona and Manchester United, his stints were brief with limited impact.
On the other hand, we have had the emergence of Erling Braut Haaland, son of Alf-Inge Haaland, who looks set to become a top player and moved to Manchester City this year. In this situation, it is likely that Haaland Jr exceeds his father in terms of his achievements.
5. Isaac Drogba
Age- 21. Current team: Folgore Caratese. Isaac Drogba began his career at Chelsea, the club his father helped to several Premier League titles and the Champions League. Hailed as one of the best strikers of modern football, Didier Drogba won the majority of his trophies over two spells with Chelsea, including four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups and also the Champions League — which saw him score a late equaliser and the winning penalty against Bayern Munich in the final.
4. Enzo Fernandez
Age- 27, Current team: CF Fuenlabrada. One of four sons of Zinedine Zidane, signed by Swiss club FC Lausanne-Sport from Alaves in January 2018, Enzo spent the following season on loan with CF Rayo Majadahonda. Further spells at Aves and Almeria have followed, with Fernandez then calling French club Rodez his home before joining third-tier Spanish outfit Fuenlabrada. He will have a hard time living up to the Zidane name, with Zinedine widely regarded as one of the best footballers ever to grace the game.
3. Giovanni Simeone
Age- 27, Current teams: S.S.C. Napoli. Giovanni Pablo Simeone Baldini is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club Napoli, on loan from Hellas Verona. Giovanni Simeone is showing the potential to be a top-flight European striker, despite a tough 2018/19 campaign which saw him score just eight goals in 40 appearances for Fiorentina. The 27-year-old has thrived elsewhere, netting 10+ goals at Genoa and Cagliari while he bagged 17 in 35 Serie A games for Hellas Verona last term. In the past, Giovanni has been linked with Atletico Madrid, who are managed by father Diego Simeone, although El Cholo hasn’t exactly warmed to the idea.
“My son has everything to play under me, but I will never sign him,” Diego said in September 2018.
2. Federico Chiesa
Age- 24, Current teams: Juventus. Federico Chiesa is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Serie A club Juventus and the Italy national team. He is the son of former footballer Enrico Chiesa. Coming through Fiorentina’s youth academy, Chiesa made his first-team debut in 2016. Enrico, was considered one of the most exciting and dynamic strikers in Italy during the mid-’90s. Chiesa is highly thought of in Italy and was given his debut for the national team in a friendly against Argentina in 2018, eventually proving key as the Azzurri won Euro 2020.
1. Romeo Beckham
Age- 20, Current team: Inter Miami CF. Romeo James Beckham is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for MLS Next Pro club Inter Miami II. He is the son of the former England international captain, David Beckham. Having been released from Arsenal’s academy in 2015, Romeo Beckham decided he wanted to pursue tennis instead and even trained with Andy Murray, before reversing his decision five years later. Last year he joined his father’s club, Inter Miami, and in January he made his non-competitive senior debut in a 4-0 win against Club Universitario de Deportes.