Cristiano Jr, Kai Rooney and the Kids Following in Their Famous Fathers’ Footsteps

Countless young people around the world aspire to play professional football with no link to anything or anyone in the game.

Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the children of football stars would aspire to achieve the same success as their fathers.

With all due respect to Frank Lampard Senior and Alfie Haaland, some people have it easier than others., but spare a thought for the individuals on this list, who face an enormous challenge in matching what their fathers were able to do in the game.

Sports Brief takes a look at the young footballers who are looking to follow in their famous fathers' footsteps.

Isaac Drogba

Didier Drogba’s son Isaac is one of the older names on this list having started his career in the Chelsea youth system, before moving to Guingamp in 2018.

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Unfortunately for the 22-year-old things haven’t exactly gone to plan as short stints with the French outfit's B team preceded a two-month spell with Italian lower division side Caratese.

A forward player like his dad, Issac’s last stint on the pitch came with Portuguese club Academia Coimbra last year and he has yet to emerge with a new club.

Shaqueel van Persie

Shaqueel is the son of Premier League legend Robin van Persie. He is a youngster you'd predict will succeed.

The attacker, who is only 16 years old, joined the Feyenoord under-17 team in 2022 after moving from Fenerbahce, where his father played at the time.

Van Persie has scored five goals in just seven outings for the Under-17 division back in his home country of the Netherlands this spring, earning him five caps for the Netherlands Under 17s.

Cristiano Ronaldo Junior

The rambunctious departure of Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United in November of last year had wider repercussions for his family, particularly his eldest son.

The child had been a member of the Old Trafford academy since he had begun his career at Juventus when his father played for the Old Lady.

Eight months after his father's contentious divorce in Manchester, Jr. is making no compromises in Saudi Arabia.

The 12-year-old is reportedly training with children two years his senior, according to a report by the Sun, and has impressed coaches at the state-of-the-art Mahd Academy complex.

Kai Rooney

Despite being only 13, the teenager made news last season when he scored 56 goals while playing with Ronaldo's son.

Rooney has already landed a substantial sponsorship agreement with Puma, putting him well on his way to the big time.

The difficult challenge of surviving one of the world's most competitive youth systems is all that's left at this point.

James Carragher

The National League's Oldham Athletic gave James Carragher, the son of Liverpool great Jamie, his first taste of professional football this year.

Prior to being fired in 2017 and joining Wigan, the 20-year-old spent six years in Liverpool's youth.

Six years later, the center-half has yet to play for his parent club's senior team and had his season cut short by a knee injury, but the future seems promising thanks to the contract extension he signed in January, which will keep him at the DW stadium through 2025.

Zach Giggs

Ryan Giggs' son, spent four years in the Manchester United academy before completing a move to the recently promoted Sheffield United.

Before signing a contract that may see him follow in his father's footsteps into the top-flight, the 16-year-old experienced a successful trial.

The young player, who typically fills in at left-back but can play anywhere along the back line, plays a little further back than his veteran counterpart.

He participated in Wales' Under 17s' loss to France Under 17s in September of last year, which was his youth international debut.