Cesare and Paolo Maldini. Few father-son duos have left as profound a mark on football history as Cesare and Paolo Maldini, living legends of AC Milan and the Italian national team.

Cesare, born in 1932, was the defensive leader of AC Milan in the 1950s and 1960s. He scored 3 goals in 347 appearances, helping Milan win four Scudettos and the 1963 European Cup, the club's first. After retiring as a player, Cesare transitioned to coaching and managed both AC Milan and the Italian national team.

Paolo followed in his father's footsteps, even elevating the Maldini legacy to new heights. Paolo spent his entire 25-year career with Milan, making 902 official appearances, scoring 33 goals, and winning 7 Scudettos and 5 Champions League titles. He was the model of a complete defender, known for his composure, precision, and discipline. He is considered a "Milan icon" and one of the greatest defenders in history.

Both father and son captained AC Milan, were pillars of the Italian national team, and participated in some of the biggest matches in European football. Their combined careers spanned from the 1950s to 2009, marking nearly 60 years of Maldini presence at the highest level of the sport.

Following Cesare and Paolo, Daniel Maldini, Paolo's youngest son, continues the illustrious family's football tradition at AC Milan.

Born in 2001, Daniel joined Milan's youth academy at a young age and excelled at various youth levels. He made his first-team debut in February 2020 against Hellas Verona in Serie A, becoming the third generation of Maldinis to play for AC Milan in official competitions.

Unlike his father and grandfather, who were defenders, Daniel plays as an attacking midfielder or a playmaker, emphasizing technique and creativity. He scored his first goal in Milan's 2-1 victory over Spezia in September 2021. It was the first time in 13 years that the name Maldini appeared on the scoresheet for Milan.

However, Daniel struggled to secure a regular starting position at Milan. He played for Spezia, Empoli, and Monza on loan before Monza signed him permanently in the summer of 2024. Six months later, Paolo Maldini's son moved to Atalanta for a fee of approximately 15 million USD.

Alf-Inge and Erling Haaland. Alf-Inge, born in 1972, was a renowned Norwegian defender and defensive midfielder in the 1990s. He played over 180 matches in the Premier League for clubs such as Nottingham Forest, Leeds United, and Man City. Alf-Inge also earned 34 caps for the Norwegian national team and participated in the 1994 World Cup.

His career was severely interrupted after a controversial clash with Roy Keane in 2001, leading to a knee injury and subsequent retirement.

His son, Erling, born in 2000 in Leeds, England, inherited his father's physical attributes and competitive spirit. Starting his career at Bryne and then Molde in his homeland, Erling quickly made an impact after moving to RB Salzburg, where he scored 29 goals in 27 matches in just one and a half seasons. In 2020, he joined Dortmund and continued to showcase his lethal instincts with 86 goals in 89 matches.

In 2022, Erling moved to Man City, his father's former club, and immediately exploded onto the scene. In his first season, Erling scored 52 goals in 53 matches, helping Man City win a treble, including the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League. He broke numerous Premier League scoring records and quickly became one of the most feared strikers in Europe.

Peter and Kasper Schmeichel. Peter, born in 1963, was an icon of Man Utd and the Danish national team in the 1990s. He played 398 matches for Man Utd, winning 5 Premier League titles, 3 FA Cups, and notably the historic treble in 1999, including the Champions League. At the international level, Peter captained Denmark to victory at Euro 1992.

Kasper, born in 1986, grew up in the shadow of his legendary father. He started as a youth goalkeeper at Man City but spent a significant period gaining experience at various smaller clubs, including Notts County, Leeds, Coventry, and Cardiff.

His turning point came when he joined Leicester City in 2011. There, he became a reliable last line of defense, playing a key role in Leicester's miraculous Premier League title win in the 2015-2016 season, one of the most shocking championships in English football history. Kasper also won the 2021 FA Cup with Leicester before moving to Nice, Anderlecht, and currently plays for Celtic.

At the international level, Kasper has been a key player for the Danish national team, with notable performances at Euro 2020, where he helped the team reach the semi-finals, and the 2018 World Cup.

Lilian and Marcus Thuram. Lilian, born in 1972 in Guadeloupe, is considered one of the best defenders in French football history. He earned 142 caps for the national team, holding the record for most appearances for "Les Bleus" until 2022. The highlights of Lilian's career include winning the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, where he displayed exceptional consistency on the right wing. At the club level, Lilian played prominently for Monaco, Parma, Juventus, and Barca.

Marcus, born in 1997, Lilian's eldest son, was named after the revolutionary Marcus Garvey. He developed at Sochaux's academy, gained recognition at Guingamp, and then moved to Gladbach (Germany) in 2019.

Unlike his father, Marcus plays as a forward, known for his pace, physicality, and powerful runs. He was called up to the French national team in 2020 and was part of the squad that reached the final of the 2022 World Cup.

In 2023, Marcus joined Inter Milan and won the Serie A title in his first season with the Nerazzurri. He was one of the team's key strikers, forming a strong partnership with captain Lautaro Martinez.

Patrick and Justin Kluivert. Patrick, born in 1976 in Amsterdam, emerged as a prodigy from the Ajax academy. In 1995, at the age of 18, he scored the only goal in the final, helping Ajax defeat AC Milan to win the Champions League, becoming the youngest player to score in a European Cup/Champions League final at the time.

After Ajax, Patrick played for AC Milan and reached his peak at Barca. There, he scored 122 goals in 257 matches, playing alongside stars like Rivaldo, Luis Figo, and Luis Enrique. For the Netherlands national team, Patrick scored 40 goals in 79 appearances, holding the record for most goals scored for the team until Robin Van Persie surpassed him.

Justin, born in 1999, is Patrick's son with his first wife, Angela van Hulten. Justin trained at the Ajax academy like his father and made his first-team debut in 2017 at the age of 17. He later struggled at AS Roma, was loaned to RB Leipzig, Nice, and Valencia, before joining Bournemouth in 2023.

Last season, he made a significant impact by becoming the first player in Premier League history to score three penalties in a single match. Justin then scored a hat-trick in Bournemouth's 4-1 victory over Newcastle in the 22nd round, surpassing his legendary father's achievement.

Diego Simeone and his sons Giovanni Simeone and Giuliano Simeone. Diego, born in 1970, was a fierce defensive midfielder who earned 106 caps for Argentina and won two Copa America titles in 1991 and 1993. At the club level, he excelled at Atletico Madrid, Lazio, and Inter Milan.

After retiring, he became a coach and has had a long tenure at Atletico Madrid, leading the team to two La Liga titles, two Europa League titles, and two Champions League finals. His football philosophy, characterized by tight defense, quick counter-attacks, and a high fighting spirit, has become his trademark.

His eldest son, Giovanni, born in 1995 in Madrid, is a center-forward who inherited some of his father's resilience and fighting spirit. He came through the River Plate academy (Argentina) and won the Copa Libertadores in 2015 before moving to Europe.

In Serie A, Giovanni made his mark with consistent performances for Genoa, Fiorentina, Cagliari, and later Hellas Verona, where he had a breakout season in 2021-2022 with 17 goals. This impressive performance led him to Napoli in 2022. While not the primary striker, Giovanni contributed to Napoli's Serie A title win in 2022-2023, their first in over 30 years.

His younger son, Giuliano, born in 2002, also plays as a forward and is currently with Atletico. He impressed for the B team and was loaned to Real Zaragoza in the second division for the 2022-2023 season, where he scored 9 goals in 36 matches. In total, Giuliano has 5 goals in 51 appearances for Atletico.

Hong Duy

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