Just six years separate Luka Modric (born on September 9, 1985) and Ante Budimir (born on July 27, 1991). Both were born in the old Yugoslavia, Modric in the Croatian capital of Zagreb and Budimir in Ozimica, some 270 kilometres away.
The two players also share the experience of a childhood marked by war, and will come face to face in Pamplona this weekend.
Modric recently spoke about how he tragically lost his grandfather in the war in an interview on the Spanish radio station Cadena COPE.
"I had a great relationship with my grandfather, because my parents were working and I spent a lot of time with him," said Modric.
"It was so sad what happened and it had a big effect on me because he was so important to me.
"I was young and didn't realise why some things happen.
"We have great memories of him and it's a shame that he never saw what I've achieved. I hope he's seen it all from up there".
They are from a generation of children who have been deeply affected by the war, something that their teammates couldn't even imagine.
Budimir doesn't have quite the same memories as Modric, though, as he was only six months old when his family left Bosnia which had been devastated by the conflict.
His family fled to Velika Gorica, close to Zagreb, in 1992. He sadly lost his father in a car accident not long after the family moved, but Budimir often speaks of how proud he is of how his mother raised him and his two sisters in such difficult circumstances.
It was in Velika Gorica where Budimir made his name as a footballer. He started out at NK Radnik and then moved to HNK Gorica. He then became the first player at HNK to bring the club a transfer fee when he moved to Inter Zaprei for 20,000 euros. His career then saw stints at Lokomotiva Zagreb, St Pauli, Crotone, Sampdoria, Real Mallorca and now Osasuna.
One of the main reasons he made the move to Pamplona was to force his way in to the Croatia national side for the upcoming European Championship alongside Modric. The Real Madrid man has his seat on the plane secured, but Budimir still has some work to do.
A big fan
The Osasuna man is a huge admirer of his compatriot.
"Modric is the best ever Croatian player," said Budimir who will be looking forward to this weekend's clash.