As one of the world's finest midfielders prepared for his final appearance for the Netherlands, he assembled his dream starting lineup of former teammates—yet omitted a major figure.
Inter Milan icon Wesley Sneijder, who still holds the record for the most Oranje caps in history with 134, selected a stunning attacking trio of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Samuel Eto'o, and Arjen Robben when asked to name his ideal team in 2018. However, one glaring absence left even neutral fans astonished: the Netherlands' all-time leading scorer, Manchester United and Arsenal legend Robin van Persie.
So why was his compatriot, who netted 50 goals for the Clockwork Orange, left out of the lineup? Fans and analysts have speculated that a long-standing feud between the pair began with a disagreement over who should take a free kick at Euro 2008. Yet the real trigger appears to have occurred a few days earlier, when the striker allegedly left a lasting impression on Sneijder with a late tackle in training. The fallout simmered for years afterward.
A dispute over a free kick was reportedly the flashpoint of the players' feud (Image: VI Images via Getty Images)
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Sneijder, now 42, was evidently far from pleased with the tackle, going so far as to publicize the incident on his website, drawing the Dutch media's attention.
The tension escalated further during the Netherlands' 3-1 quarter-final loss to Russia. With the Oranje trailing 1-0, they were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position.
Despite Sneijder being the team's set-piece specialist, Van Persie took control of the ball, attempted the kick, and missed. Fast-forward four months, and an irate Sneijder reignited the dispute in a Dutch newspaper.
He claimed Van Persie had "broken agreements," elaborating: "From the first practice game, I've been designated as the man who takes free-kicks – no-one else is supposed to touch the ball."
In response, speaking to another publication, Van Persie retorted: "I expected more class from Wesley."
The pair were ever present in the Dutch squad for more than a decade (Image: VI Images via Getty Images)
He further dismissed the claim, saying: "Besides, it's absolute nonsense that he's the only one who can take free-kicks. You can ask the coach."
The Dutch striker expressed his annoyance at Sneijder for bringing their private disagreement into the public domain, signaling his unwillingness to engage with him privately any longer after the Netherlands were eliminated from the tournament.
"I'm flabbergasted by the way Wesley has acted," he said. "Must the whole country take part in a meeting between Sneijder and Van Persie?"
By 2013, it appeared that Sneijder had let bygones be bygones. In that year's Ballon d'Or, he voted for Van Persie, who at the time was the national team's captain and won the Premier League with Manchester United.
Arsenal let Robin van Persie join Manchester United and he fired the Red Devils to the Premier League (Image: AFP/Getty Images)
But five years after that moment, his decision to select Ibrahimovic over Van Persie for his best starting XI suggested there might still be some lingering resentment from their spat a decade prior.
When asked at the time why he chose the Swede over his compatriot, Sneijder replied that he was "personally good with him."
Sneijder's ultimate team featured Julio Cesar, Christian Chivu, Sergio Ramos, Javier Zanetti, Marcelo, Clarence Seedorf, Guti, Dejan Stankovic, Samuel Eto'o, Arjen Robben, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Van Persie, now 42, has not yet declared his own best XI. It remains to be seen if Sneijder will be included.
Wesley appeared to hint the end of their feud in 2013, but it resurfaced five years later (Image: Vinicius Costa/Getty Images)
These days, both players lead very different lives. Since hanging up his boots in 2017, Van Persie moved into football management, first taking charge of Eredivisie side Heerenveen in 2024 before becoming Feyenoord coach in February 2025.
He got off to a great start, turning their season around, finishing third, and qualifying for the Champions League qualifiers.
However, after failing to make it through to the group stage and enduring a run of defeats in league and cup, he was sacked at the end of his second campaign in charge, despite the club finishing second in the league.
Sneijder, meanwhile, turned to alcohol after he called time on his career in 2019—but not in the way you think. He brews his own line of gin, Swique, and runs the business with Claudia Sneijder, his late mother's sister-in-law.