Top 4 Football Players Who Switched National Teams and Made an Impact

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With millions of ardent fans and unconditional supporters from around the world, football is undoubtedly one of the most popular and influential sports on a global level. From on-field rivalries to spine-chilling face-offs, the football players grab enormous attention from the football aficionados for every small move that they make.

While transfers from one club to another are quite a common occurrence in the modern era of football, a few football players over the decades have created history by switching their national teams, as well.

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In this article we will take a look at the top four football players who created history by switching their national teams.

Top 4 Football Players Who Switched National Teams

• Diego Costa – From Brazil To Spain

At the first spot in our list of top four football players who changed their national teams and still succeeded at making an impact, we have professional football player Diego da Silva Costa, who most recently played as a striker for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Grêmio.

Diego Costa started off with his football career in Brazil in 2006 at the young age of 17. In 2013, Diego received a call-up from Brazil’s manager for friendly matches and was expected to play for the Brazilian national football squad. However, Diego, by that time, had developed his La Liga game in Spain to a large extent, and later in 2014, decided to officially switch his national team from Brazil to Spain.

Diego made his debut for Spain in 2014 and, ever since, the football player has clinched a total of 24 caps and scored 10 goals. Additionally, Diego Costa also represented the Spanish side at the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cup editions.

• Kevin Prince Boateng – From Germany To Ghana

At the second spot in our list of top four football players who took the bold decision of changing their national teams, we have former professional football player Kevin Prince Boateng, who played professional football for Germany’s side for six long years, from 2004 to 2009, before he switched his sides to Ghana in 2010.

As mentioned earlier, Kevin Prince Boateng started off his professional football career in 2004 and made multiple appearances at the youth level for Germany. Breaking into the larger international opportunities still continued to be a major challenge for German football players for a very long time.

As Boateng’s club career flourished in the top European leagues, the Ghanaian football managers instantly spotted his presence and soon made him a regular member of the Ghana’s national team. Kevin Prince Boateng also represented Ghana at the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup editions.

• Pierre Emerick Aubameyang – From France to Gabon

Next, at the third spot in our list of the top four football players who changed their national teams, we have Pierre Emerick Aubameyang who currently plays as a striker for Saudi Pro League Club Al-Qadsiah and also captains the Gabon national football team.

Although Pierre Emerick Aubameyang was born in France, his father hailed from Gabon, which proved to be a major reason for his decision to represent Gabon instead of France. Pierre Emerick Aubameyang represented France for the first time in 2009 as a part of France’s U-21 squad. In the same year, he took the plunge to represent Gabon on the international stage.

Pierre Emerick Aubameyang made his senior debut for Gabon in 2009 at the age of 19 and, with a total of 33 goals, he soon became Gabon’s all-time top scorer. Aubameyang represented Gabon at four editions of the Africa Cup of Nations and also at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

• Jack Grealish – From Ireland To England

Finally, at the fourth spot in our list of the top four football players who changed their national teams, we have English professional football player Jack Grealish, who currently plays as an attacking midfielder for the Premier League Club, Manchester City, and also plays for the National football team of England.

Although born and raised in England, Jack Grealish also had the privilege of playing professional football for Ireland along with England, since he had Irish ancestry. Jack Grealish was capped by the Republic of Ireland up to under-21 level before he confirmed his decision to play for England in April 2016. Grealish played for the England U21 squad for the first time in May 2016, clinching the 2016 Toulon Tournament. Also, Jack Grealish represented England’s senior side at UEFA Euro 2020 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

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