5 International Football Stars that have represented two countries at the highest level
Despite the complexities of modern football, the regulations for international play have always looked to be straightforward: you play for your own country, and that's it.
Throughout history, players have always found a way to break the rules and forge their own routes.
Only a small percentage of the millions of players in the world have had the distinction of representing their country — and even fewer have done it twice.
Due to a developing rule book, footballers have been allowed to swap countries, whether through dual nationality or familial ancestry, especially if they have only represented a country at a young age.Some, like Wilfried Zaha, who, despite two England appearances, currently plays for the Ivory Coast and will face the Three Lions for the first time in a friendly at Wembley on Tuesday, go a step further before changing their minds.
After succeeding in England's junior teams, Wilfried Zaha was a late substitution in two friendlies in November 2012 and August 2013.
He wasn't called up again until 2016, when he informed FIFA of his desire to represent Ivory Coast.Roy Hodgson, who gave him his Three Lions debut and later managed him at Crystal Palace, has lamented not giving him a competitive start since FIFA regulations for friendlies were loosened, despite Gareth Southgate's attempts to urge him to stay.
On the eve of the 2014 World Cup, Diego Costa Costa, the group's most high-profile departure, made headlines when he decided to leave Brazil, which was hosting the tournament for the second time, in favor of world champions and back-to-back European winners Spain.
After joining Luiz Filipe Scolari’s team in March 2013, the powerful forward would make his La Roja debut less than a year later, while still representing Atletico Madrid.Costa, who became a Spanish citizen in July 2013, was in the same situation as Zaha, having only played friendly matches for the Selecao before committing his international future to Spain.
Rakitic, Ivan
It's reasonable that some young footballers dream of playing for one country before moving on to another.
Take, for example, Rakitic, who is regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation. Before being called up by Croatia before of Euro 2008, the former Barcelona player was born and reared in Switzerland, where he played for five Swiss junior teams.Rice, Declan (England, Ireland)
Declan Rice is an English professional soccer player who now plays in the Premier League for West Ham United and for the British national team. On January 14, 1999, he was born.
Despite the fact that he was born in London and his grandparents were Irish, he had previously made three appearances for the Irish national team.
Jones, Jermaine (Germany, America)
From 2001 through 2010, the former American international was Germany's ambassador at all levels. Before joining the US squad, Jones represented Germany at the U20 and U21 levels, earning three caps for "Die Mannschaft."Since starting in his new shirt in October 2010, he has made 69 appearances, scored four goals, and has established himself as one of the tea's constants.
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