Pio and Sebastiano Esposito Start for Italy After 111 Years
Pio and Sebastiano Esposito became the first pair of brothers to start a match together for the Italy national football team in 111 years, during a 4-1 victory over Turkey in the UEFA Nations League on October 3, 2026, infobae.com reported.
The Victory in Bursa and the Starting Lineup
The Nations League fixture took place on a Monday in Bursa, arriving three days after a 2-0 defeat against Belgium in the tournament opener. The result delivered the first victory in the competition for the squad managed by Roberto Mancini. Pio Esposito, 21, played from the start and contributed a goal and an assist. His older brother Sebastiano, 24, made his senior international debut by also earning a place in the starting XI. Their appearances on the pitch together placed the spotlight on a family that already held previous representation within the national setup.
One Century Since the Cevenini Precedent
The milestone ended a 111-year wait for the Azzurra. The last time Italy fielded two brothers as starters in the same match occurred in 1915, when Aldo and Luigi Cevenini started a fixture against Switzerland. During that 1915 encounter, the Cevenini brothers scored all three goals in a 3-1 victory. While other pairs of brothers have represented Italy in the decades since, none had featured together in the opening lineup until Pio and Sebastiano took the field against Turkey.
The Broader Esposito Family Record
Sebastiano’s debut completed an unprecedented milestone for the Esposito household, as three brothers have now featured for Italy’s senior team. Salvatore Esposito, the eldest brother at 25, previously appeared in a match for Italy in 2022. The participation of Salvatore alongside Pio and Sebastiano establishes the family as the first trio of brothers to play for the absolute national selection. Other brother combinations have worn the Italy shirt previously, such as Filippo and Simone Inzaghi, who shared the pitch in 2000 without starting together.
Pio Esposito Discusses Playing with His Brother
Pio Esposito entered the international break following a breakout season with Inter Milan, cementing his attacking role by raising his international tally to six goals through 11 appearances. Sebastiano Esposito earned his senior call-up after joining Sassuolo on loan from Cagliari during the summer transfer window. Following the match in Bursa, Pio addressed reporters about sharing the pitch with his sibling for the senior side. “I tried not to put any extra pressure on him. I hope he enjoyed it to the fullest,” Pio said, as noted by AP. He added that sharing the experience was wonderful and expressed hope for future appearances together.