PSG and France winger Desire Doue has a brother who represents a different national team.
Desire, 20, made his mark during his maiden season at PSG, scoring twice and providing an assist in their 5-0 UEFA Champions League final victory against Inter Milan on May 31.
And he didn’t have long to rest due to his commitments with the France national team. The 20-year-old featured in Les Bleus’ 5-4 UEFA Nations League semi-final defeat against Spain on June 5 as well as their 2-0 win against Germany in the third-place tie on June 8.
The Angers-born starlet represented France at Under-17, Under-19, and Under-21 levels as well as forming part of the 2024 Olympic silver medal-winning side coached by Thierry Henry.
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In March 2025, against Croatia, Desire made his senior debut, but could’ve represented another nation if he chose to.
His brother, Guela, 22, is a right-back at Strasbourg and, despite also being born in Angers, France, chose to play for another country.
Due to their father’s heritage, the pair could both play for Ivory Coast, which the elder of the pair has done on seven occasions.
Dual citizenship is common in France, and several iconic players could’ve represented other countries.
Kylian Mbappe’s father is from Cameroon, while his mother is of Algerian descent, but he, like the Doues, was born in France and therefore chose to represent the nation.
But similar situations have occurred, which have benefited the so-called lesser nations.
Former Arsenal and Chelsea forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was born and raised in France and even represented the nation at Under-21 level, but still chose to play for Gabon because his father once captained the side.
"I was very young when I decided,” he explained to Arsenal’s website in 2018. “Players often take their time to consider their options and make the right choice, but for me, the choice was clear.
“I wanted to follow in my father's footsteps. He was captain of the national side in the past.
“I could well have chosen to play for Spain or France. I played for the French under-21 team, but I realised very quickly that in my heart I wanted to emulate my father.”
Topics: PSG, Football, France, Kylian Mbappe
Luke Davies