BURSA, Türkiye -- Pio Esposito was joined by older brother Sebastiano in the starting lineup for Italy's Nations League match win over Türkiye on Monday, marking the first time two brothers have started for the Azzurri in more than a century.
It was also an international debut for the 24-year-old Sebastiano Esposito, while the 21-year-old Pio, who was on the scoresheet in the 4-1 win, has played 10 times for Italy, scoring five goals.
Sebastiano also went close on several occasions against Türkiye trying to join his brother with a goal of his own.
"I remember well my first time for the senior Italy side, as it was only last year, so I tried not to add any more pressure onto his shoulders. I hope he enjoyed it to the max," Pio said. "It was really wonderful sharing this experience with him and I hope to do so many more times."
They are the fourth set of brothers to play in the same match for Italy, including Filippo and Simone Inzaghi in 2000.
However, the last time two brothers started the same match was in 1915, when Aldo and Luigi Cevenini scored all the goals in a 3-1 victory over Switzerland.
Moreover, Sebastiano completes a hat trick of Esposito brothers to have played for Italy. Salvatore Esposito, the oldest brother at 25, featured in one match in 2022.
It is the first time three brothers have played for Italy at senior level.
Pio had a breakout season with Inter Milan last campaign, while Sebastiano joined Sassuolo on loan from Cagliari in the summer.
Italy needed the win after kicking off their Nations League campaign with a 2-0 loss at home to Belgium, in Roberto Mancini's first match back in charge, and off the back of missing out on the 2026 World Cup.
"These boys deserved the win, especially what so many have been saying over the past three days," Mancini said in reference to criticism of the team after the loss to Belgium. "They didn't deserve that kind of talk. We are on a long journey.
"Besides the victory itself, the boys did some really good things."
Italy play France on Oct. 2 in their next Nations League game of the September/October international window before closing things out with a match against Türkiye on Oct. 5.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this story.