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Footballers Who Didn’t Play For Their Birth Nation at the World Cup

It is a dream for every player to represent their country at the highest level. Playing for a top club is a major achievement, but nothing can match the ecstasy of representing one’s country at a major global event like the FIFA World Cup. From a rookie to a legend, no footballer will ever want to miss the opportunity to play for their national sides. However, not every player gets the national call, and sometimes they are forced to change their nationality just for the sake of playing at the international level. 

Players are left with no options but to represent other countries due to a lack of opportunities on their national side. Many players opt for a stronger nation that has a better chance of winning a major trophy. Almost 16 percent of the players are representing other countries in the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Let’s look at some of the big names from the list. 

Players who don’t play for their birth nation at the FIFA World Cup 

1) Kalidou Koulibaly 

Kalidou Koulibaly 

DOHA, QATAR – NOVEMBER 29: Kalidou Koulibaly of Senegal controls the ball during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group A match between Ecuador and Senegal at Khalifa International Stadium on November 29, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Matteo Ciambelli/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Born: France 

Representing: Senegal 

The Chelsea superstar was born in Saint-Die-des-Vosges, France but plied his trades with Senegal at the international level. Koulibaly was born in a Senegalese household that allowed him to represent either France or Senegal on the national level; the centre-back chose the latter. 

Interestingly, Koulibaly represented France at the 2011 U20 World Cup in Colombia. However, he later decided to switch sides and started his international career with Senegal in September 2015.

2) Pepe 

Pepe 

MADRID, SPAIN – JUNE 04: Pepe of Portugal reacts during the international friendly match between Spain and Portugal at Wanda Metropolitano stadium on June 04, 2021 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Born: Brazil 

Representing: Portugal 

Pepe has been the backbone of the Portuguese national team for 15 years now. The 39-year-old became the second oldest outfield player in the history of the World Cup after representing Portugal against Uruguay in the 2022 World Cup group stages. However, Pepe could have played for Brazil as he was born in Marceio. 

According to Pepe’s father, the former Real Madrid centre-back refused the opportunity to represent Brazil in 2006 when he was offered the chance by the Brazilian coach Dunga. Nevertheless, Pepe made history with Portugal after winning UEFA Euro 2016. 

3) Alphonso Davies 

Alphonso Davies

Picture Credit:
Creator: Vaughn Ridley
Copyright: 2021 Vaughn Ridley

Born: Ghana 

Representing: Canada

The Bayern Munich starlet could have represented Ghana, but Canada left no stone unturned to grab the raw talent. The Canada national team signed him up for their U15 team. Davies was born in Buduburam and was a Liberian citizen by birth. 

4) Sergej Milinkovic-Savic 

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic 

ROME, ITALY – MAY 21: Sergej Milinkovic-Savic of SS Lazio greets the fans at the end of the Serie A match between SS Lazio and Hellas Verona FC at Stadio Olimpico on May 21, 2022 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Silvia Lore/Getty Images)

Born: Spain 

Representing: Serbia 

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic was born in Lleida, Spain. Sergej’s father, Nikola Milinkovic, played for UE Lleida. However, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic decided to represent Serbia. Milinkovic-Savic has been a crucial part of the Serbian national team. 

5) Giovanni Reyna 

Giovanni Reyna

SWANSEA, WALES – NOVEMBER 12: USA player Giovanni Reyna beats Chris Gunter to the ball during the international friendly match between Wales and the USA at Liberty Stadium on November 12, 2020 in Swansea, Wales. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Born: England 

Representing: USA 

Giovanni Reyna has already made a name for himself at the young age of 20. However, not many people know that the Borussia Dortmund academy graduate was born in Sunderland, England. Giovanni Reyna’s father, Claudio Reyna, played for Sunderland FC. However, the Reyna family moved back to the USA when Giovanni was just 5 years old. Giovanni Reyna later joined the USA national team. 

6) Raheem Sterling 

Raheem Sterling 

2JCDP43 11 Jun 2022 – England v Italy – UEFA Nations League – Group 3 – Molineux Stadium
Raheem Sterling during the match against Italy.
Picture Credit : © Mark Pain / Alamy Live News

Born: Jamaica 

Representing: England 

Raheem Sterling is one of the most established English footballers of the modern generation. He is a regular starter for Gareth Southgate in the English side as he is a very critical part of the Three Lions in their 2022 Qatar World Cup campaign. 

However, Sterling was born in Kingston, Jamaica and not in England. Nevertheless, his family moved to England when he was just five and made it to the top of the English football scene with the abundance of talent he holds. 

7) Luuk de Jong 

Luuk de Jong 

Netherland’s forward Luuk de Jong warms up before the UEFA EURO 2020 Group C football match between North Macedonia and the Netherlands at Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam on June 21, 2021. (Photo by Peter Dejong / POOL / AFP) (Photo by PETER DEJONG/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Born: Switzerland 

Representing: Netherlands 

Luuk de Jong is as Dutch as any Dutch can get, just going by his name. Interestingly, the former Barcelona striker was born in Aigle, Switzerland. However, Luuk de Jong was very sure about representing the Netherlands from the start and earned his first senior team call in 2011. Luuk de Jong has scored 8 goals in his 28 appearances for the Netherlands.

8) Eric Choupo-Moting 

Eric Choupo-Moting

TOPSHOT – Cameroon’s forward #13 Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group G football match between Cameroon and Serbia at the Al-Janoub Stadium in Al-Wakrah, south of Doha on November 28, 2022. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP) (Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images)

Born: Germany 

Representing: Cameroon 

Eric Choupo-Moting has been the key striker for Bayern Munich since Robert Lewandowski left for Barcelona in the summer of 2022. Choupo-moting has spent a large chunk of his career in Germany, the country where he was born. However, as unrealistic as it sounds, Choupo-Moting decided to play for Cameroon in 2010 and has been representing the country since then. 

Other Players who didn’t represent the country they were born in

Simone Perrotta 

Born: England 

Represented: Italy 

Mauro Camoranesi 

Born: Argentina 

Represented: Italy 

Eduardo Da Silva 

Born: Brazil 

Represented: Croatia

Marcos Senna 

Born: Brazil 

Represented: Spain

Lukas Podolski 

Born: Germany 

Represented: Poland

Eusebio 

Born: Mozambique 

Represented: Portugal

Deco

Born: Portugal 

Represented: Brazil

Diego Costa 

Born: Brazil 

Represented: Spain

Alfredo Di Stefano 

Born: Argentina 

Represented: Spain

Marcel Desailly 

Represented: France

Born: Ghana 

Miroslav Klose 

Born: Poland 

Represented: Germany

Patrick Vieira 

Born: Senegal 

Represented: France

John Barnes 

Born: Jamaica

Represented: England