20 footballers who refused to represent their countries of origin

Football, as a globally celebrated sport, often intertwines with national identity and the representation of countries through players. The composition of national football teams and the players' connections to the countries they represent have evolved and diversified over time, reflecting broader trends in international migration and changing perceptions of nationality.

Historically, the makeup of national football teams has often sparked debates about the conception of a nation and who gets to represent it. Notable examples include the French national team, which, in both their 1998 and 2018 World Cup victories, included a significant number of players who were immigrants or children of immigrants. 

Many of these players had African roots, which led to discussions about the team's multicultural composition and its reflection of France's colonial history. The United States, South Africa, and Ireland have also seen similar trends, with players representing these countries often having diverse backgrounds, highlighting the role of migration in shaping national teams.

Over the years, the World Cup has seen increasing diversity in the national teams' compositions. The diversity of players' countries of origin has increased from the 1930s to the 2010s. This shift reflects wider global migration trends, with countries receiving migrants from a more diverse array of source countries.

The shifting landscape of international football reflects not only changes in global migration patterns but also evolving notions of national identity and allegiance. It underscores the complex interplay between sports, politics, and social dynamics, as football continues to be a medium through which national identities are both expressed and contested.

Some notable examples of players who could have represented their country of origin but chose to play for another country include:

Kylian Mbappe: Eligible to play for Cameroon or Algeria, but represents France.

Alisson Becker: Could have represented Germany, but plays for Brazil.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Eligible for Bosnia and Herzegovina or Croatia, represents Sweden.

Virgil Van Dijk: Had the option for Suriname, but plays for the Netherlands.

N’Golo Kante: Could have played for Mali, but represents France.

Karim Benzema: Eligible for Algeria, but plays for France.

Joe Gomez: Could have represented Spain or Gambia, but plays for England.

Jorginho: Brazilian by birth, but represents Italy.

Romelu Lukaku: Born in Belgium, but of Congolese descent.

Raheem Sterling: Born in Jamaica, but represents England.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka (England to DR Congo): Wan-Bissaka, born in England, is of Congolese descent and eligible to represent DR Congo. He is yet to make his senior international debut.

Michail Antonio (England to Jamaica): Although born in England, Antonio has Jamaican heritage and has expressed a desire to help Jamaica qualify for the World Cup.

Pascal Struijk (Netherlands to Belgium): Born in Belgium, Struijk currently represents the Netherlands but could switch to Belgium, where he might have a more prominent role.

Ilaix Moriba (Spain to Guinea): Moriba, born in Guinea, moved to Spain as a child. He has played for Spain's youth teams but is now a full Guinea international, representing them at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Wesley Fofana (France to Cote d'Ivoire): Fofana, a French citizen, is also eligible to play for Cote d'Ivoire and could choose them for more playing time.

Pepe (Brazil to Portugal): Born in Brazil, Pepe chose to represent Portugal and became a key player for their national team, winning Euro 2016.

Thiago Motta (Brazil to Italy): Initially playing for Brazil's U-23 side, Motta later represented Italy, qualifying through his paternal grandfather.

Jonathan de Guzman (Canada to Netherlands): Born in Canada, de Guzman obtained Dutch citizenship and chose to play for the Netherlands.

Kevin-Prince Boateng (Germany to Ghana): Boateng, born in Germany, switched to represent Ghana, where he played in two World Cups.

Cacau (Brazil to Germany): Cacau, originally from Brazil, became a naturalised German citizen and chose to play for Germany.

These decisions often hinge on various factors, including personal connections to a country, the level of football development, and opportunities for international exposure. The choice of which country to represent can be a complex and personal decision for players, influenced by their familial ties, cultural identity, and career opportunities.