Norway x Ivory Coast: Is Guéla Doué the brother of French player Desiré Doué? Duo gains prominence at the 2026 World Cup
This Sunday, June 14, Ivory Coast begins its World Cup journey in an exciting clash against Ecuador, scheduled for 8pm (Brasília time). A name among Ivorian athletes that may surprise French football enthusiasts is that of right-back Guéla Doué, who is not coincidentally the brother of Desiré Doué, renowned PSG striker and member of the French national team, Les Bleus.
The two brothers have their roots in France, they were born in the country, being children of an Ivorian father and a French mother. The football story for both started early, with Guéla undergoing trials at Rennes at the age of nine. His brother Desiré, two years younger, also attracted attention for his skills with the ball on the edge of the pitch, which led to both being signed by the club.
Desiré’s ascension to the professional team took place in August 2022, while his brother Guéla made his debut with the main team in February of the following year, entering the field to replace his youngest.
After his time at Rennes, Guéla left the club in 2024 to join Strasbourg, where he currently plays. Desiré, in turn, became the object of great dispute between several European clubs, culminating in the “victory” of Paris Saint-Germain in one of the most talked about transfers of a young promise.
The brothers’ trajectory, however, would diverge again in relation to the national teams. With dual citizenship, Guéla made the decision to represent Côte d’Ivoire, his father’s country of origin. His first call-up to the Ivorian team came in March 2024, and he quickly gained a place in the team that secured a place in the World Cup, a significant return to the world stage after a twelve-year absence, highlighting the impact of his selection on the revitalization of the African team.
On the other hand, Desiré has established himself as one of the main names at PSG and French football. The player was called up to the 2024 Olympic team, where he helped France win the silver medal at the Paris Games. At the Parisian club, he racked up the impressive record of two Champions League victories, including two decisive goals in the 2025 final.
The family clash on the field
In addition to the usual clashes in the French Championship, the brothers staged an exciting duel between their national teams in a friendly match played on June 4th. Ivory Coast emerged victorious 2-1 in a match held in Nantes, putting an end to an impressive two-year unbeaten streak for the French team. The first Ivorian goal was scored by Guéla, who celebrated in a remarkable way, kicking the corner flag that bore the symbol of the French Football Federation.
