world cup 2018

I Love Pics of These Russian Soccer Twins Doing Stuff Together

Anton and Aleksey Miranchuk.
Anton and Aleksey Miranchuk. Photo: Michael Regan - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

There are few things that can bring us comfort during this truly awful time. But some of us have been able to find momentary escapes from the terror of today’s reality in the 2018 World Cup — and by that I specifically mean, looking at heartwarming pictures of Russian twin soccer players, Anton and Aleksey Miranchuk, doing stuff together.

Not to brag, but my life has been greatly affected by twins. My mom is an identical twin (hi Aunt Pat!), I grew up worshiping the Olsen twins, and my co-worker Callie Beusman is also a twin. So I know that the bond between these siblings is unparalleled — can you even imagine going through life alongside someone who is basically you but a separate human being?

Perhaps my own twin-adjacent experience is why I’m so (platonically) obsessed with 22-year-old twin soccer players Anton and Aleksey. The Miranchuk twins — who I assume are identical, because they look like literal clones of one another — both play on the Russian World Cup team, and they also both play the position of midfielder.

As a result, they’re often pictured doing things together — like running, playing sports, and standing — and I love it!

Here they are stretching with a buddy at the 2018 World Cup:

Anton and Alexey Miranchuk, and a buddy.
Anton and Alexey Miranchuk, and a buddy. Photo: ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images

And look, they posed for their official World Cup photo shoot together. Aww!

Anton and Aleksey Miranchuk.
Anton and Aleksey Miranchuk. Photo: Lars Baron - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

They practiced together before the World Cup even started:

Anton and Aleksey Miranchuk at practice.
Anton and Aleksey Miranchuk at practice. Photo: ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images

And one time they won a trophy for something soccer-related, and one of them kissed the trophy while the other looked on!

Anton and Aleksey Miranchuk.
Anton and Aleksey Miranchuk. Photo: NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images

But in general, they play together …

Anton and Aleksey Miranchuk.
Anton and Aleksey Miranchuk. Photo: Valery Matytsin/Valery Matytsin/TASS

… They huddle together …

Anton and Aleksey Miranchuk.
Anton and Aleksey Miranchuk. Photo: KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/Getty Images

… And sometimes they even hold hands!

Anton and Aleksey Miranchuk.
Anton and Aleksey Miranchuk. Photo: Vitaly Timkiv/Vitaly Timkiv/TASS

How heartwarming!

I Love Pics of The Russian Soccer Twins Doing Stuff Together