In the realm of Belgian football, few names resonate as strongly as those of Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku. From modest origins, these two sporting giants have ascended to become revered figures in the realm of football, garnering acclaim both at home and abroad. Their narratives not only showcase their personal prowess but also exemplify the united spirit and unwavering resolve that have elevated Belgian football to a position of prominence on the global platform. In this article, bestsoccertips.com has decided to rank the top 9 best belgian football players history – and it’s no easy task.
Ranking the 9 best Belgian football players
Thibaut Courtois
A familiar name to Premier League fans, Courtois has consistently performed exceptionally well in matches. He played for Chelsea from 2014 to 2018 – winning two Premier League titles, and he’s one of the greatest Belgian footballers of all time in the English Premier League.
Later, Courtois moved to Real Madrid for £38 million after the World Cup. Thibaut Courtois’s value on the transfer market website is estimated at around €60 million.
Courtois is a man built for the toughest conditions. And he’s one of Belgium’s greatest footballers ever. This 27-year-old goalkeeper was outstanding at the 2018 World Cup, making more saves than any other goalkeeper in the tournament, and played a crucial role in the Red Devils’ 2-1 victory over Brazil. With his efforts, Courtois deservedly won the Golden Glove award.
Vincent Kompany
Vincent Kompany stands tall as Belgium’s footballing legend, hailed as one of the preeminent defenders of his era. Displaying immense potential from his youth, he earned accolades such as Belgium’s Young Player of the Year and made his debut for the national team while still a teenager.
At the club level, he played for Anderlecht and Hamburger SV before joining Manchester City in 2008. Winning the Belgian Golden Shoe as a teenager, Kompany helped Anderlecht win two Belgian Pro League titles. In the 2011-2012 season, he became the captain of Manchester City, leading them to their first Premier League title in 44 years at the peak of his career.
The leader of Belgium’s new golden generation of football, Vincent Kompany has established himself as one of the world’s finest defenders since moving to Manchester City. Kompany is a cornerstone of Belgium’s new golden generation, serving as a guiding light for them. He has earned 89 caps for the national team and played in the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups.
Jean-Marie Pfaff
Jean-Marie Pfaff, one of Belgium’s top players in the late 1970s and 1980s, is an icon of their first golden generation of the national team. He shone with KSK Beveren and Bayern Munich, winning numerous titles such as the Bundesliga and national cups with Beveren before moving to Bayern Munich. At Bayern, Pfaff continued his success with two Bundesliga titles and three DFB-Pokal titles before brief stints with Lierse and Trabzonspor.
He participated in four major tournaments in his international career, including the 1982 and 1986 FIFA World Cups along with the UEFA European Championship in 1980 and 1984. Pfaff played a crucial role in Belgium’s success, helping them to a runners-up finish at Euro 1980 and reaching the semi-finals at the 1986 World Cup, their best-ever performance with a fourth-place finish.
Furthermore, Pfaff was the recipient of several prestigious individual accolades, notably earning the IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper award in 1987 and securing a spot in the Dream Team of the 1986 World Cup. Jean-Marie Pfaff, acknowledged by the IFFHS as the tenth-best goalkeeper of the 20th century and personally selected by Pelé among the 125 greatest living footballers, stands as a testament to his remarkable impact on the sport. Widely celebrated as one of Belgium’s key figures, Pfaff played an indispensable role in elevating the reputation and achievements of the national team.
Player Eden Hazard
Eden Hazard has surpassed over 120 appearances for the Belgian national team, leading Belgium to the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup and shining in the tournament. Throughout his 8 years at Lille in France, he made a significant impact.
Following his success at Lille, Hazard moved to Chelsea and played a crucial role in winning two Premier League titles. At Chelsea, he became a household name and an indispensable part of the Belgian national team, helping them return to the World Cup stage in 2014 after a 12-year absence.
Although Belgium hasn’t won any major international titles since the 1920 Olympics, with the new golden generation, Hazard and his teammates have the opportunity to make history. He joined Real Madrid in 2019, demonstrating his intent to aim for lofty goals.
In his career in England, Hazard achieved many individual accolades and was recognized as the Player of the Year for the 2014-2015 season by the FWA and PFA. With his speed, creativity, and dribbling skills, he is a formidable weapon.
Despite facing injuries upon his move to Real Madrid, Hazard remains a bright spot for the Belgian national team and is expected to shine in the upcoming Euros. With impressive form, he has proven himself as one of the world’s top players and could dominate Europe in the future.
Wilfried van Moer
Wilfried Van Moer is regarded as one of the greatest footballers in Belgium’s history, having represented the national team with distinction, amassing 57 appearances and scoring 9 goals from 1966 to 1982. He participated in three World Cups and Euro 1980, where Belgium finished as runners-up. Van Moer rose to prominence in his club career, forging strong ties with Beveren, Royal Antwerp, and Standard Liege. At Standard Liege, he contributed to winning three national championships.
Van Moer, a small yet determined midfielder, is renowned for his exceptional ball control abilities. Nonetheless, his journey on the international stage was marred by a leg injury, which kept him out of action for a staggering five years. Nonetheless, he made a comeback and played impressively at the age of 30. Enzo Scifo, dubbed the “Michael Platini of Belgium,” was a midfield maestro for the national team. With creativity, intelligence, and technique, he left his mark with Anderlecht, Torino, and AS Monaco. Taking part in the 1986 World Cup, he was acclaimed as the Best Young Player by FIFA.
Jef Mermans
If you’re not familiar with Jef Mermans, one of Belgium’s greatest footballers of all time, let’s delve a bit into his story. Despite the overshadowing presence of World War II in Jef Mermans’ early career, Anderlecht’s determination led them to offer a blank check to the modest club Tubantia to secure the services of this talented striker.
It ended up being a record fee of 125,000 Belgian francs, marking the start of a illustrious career. Mermans went on to score a record 338 goals in 384 appearances for Anderlecht, helping the team secure seven Belgian championships and being the league’s top scorer three times. His form was such that giants like Roma, Torino, Lazio, Atletico Madrid, and even Real Madrid came knocking with offers. He played internationally for 11 years and remains Belgium’s fourth all-time top scorer with 27 goals.
Jan Ceulemans
If one were to pick a player who served as the nucleus for Belgium’s golden generation of football, none could surpass Jan Ceulemans. He is celebrated as one of the most esteemed individuals in the history of Belgian football, recognized for his exceptional skills and enduring stamina. Proficient across multiple positions, he frequently operated as either an attacking midfielder or second striker. In his long and illustrious career, Ceulemans was synonymous with Club Brugge, winning numerous titles both for the club and individually. After starting his career at Lierse SK, he played for Brugge for 13 years, turning down offers from AC Milan to stay put.
No one has donned the Belgian national team jersey more times than Ceulemans, who played a crucial role in propelling Belgium in the 1980s. He led the team to the final of the European Championship in 1980 and helped them achieve a fourth-place finish at the 1986 World Cup.
Ceulemans is highly regarded as an emblematic figure of Club Brugge, having chosen to remain loyal to the club despite receiving a tempting offer from AC Milan. During his tenure, he amassed over 400 appearances, a testament to his unwavering dedication. Furthermore, he received the prestigious titles of Belgium’s Player of the Year and Professional Footballer of the Year on three separate occasions. He featured in the Dream Team of Euro 1980 and the World Cup 1986.
Ceulemans’ crowning achievement was guiding Belgium to the semifinals of the 1986 World Cup with three goals, including the decisive header against Spain in the quarterfinals. He also made it to the All-Star Team of the World Cup that year. His stellar career is the clearest testament to his talent and contribution to Belgian football history.
Kevin De Bruyne
What do you want to know about Kevin De Bruyne? Simply put, he’s an absolute magician and has an uncanny footballing intelligence. De Bruyne started his career at Genk. Following a stint at Chelsea that didn’t meet expectations, he garnered recognition as the Player of the Year in Germany during his time with Wolfsburg. In 2015, he signed with Manchester City for £54 million.
De Bruyne is one of Belgium’s greatest footballers, winning two titles with Man City and earning 97 caps for Belgium at the age of 31. Since 2010, he has represented Belgium on the field more than 70 times. He helped Belgium reach the semifinals in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne is one of Belgium’s greatest footballers of all time and the world’s best midfielder.
De Bruyne’s renown stems from his remarkable accuracy in passing, frequently delivering passes that exceed the anticipations of seasoned pundits. His formidable technique establishes him as one of the premier attackers in the realm of sports. His formidable technique solidifies his status as one of the premier attackers in the realm of sports. He’s the heartbeat of Belgium and a supremely talented player.
Romelu Lukaku
The 29-year-old forward has been prolific everywhere he’s been and has the potential to break every national team record with the Belgian national team, having debuted internationally at the age of 16 in 2010. Lukaku has amassed a remarkable tally of 68 goals in 104 appearances for the national team over the course of his career. The dynamic forward is enjoying a goal-laden season at Inter Milan after leaving Chelsea.
The Belgian forward is a natural goal scorer and a clinical finisher. At 29, Lukaku is the all-time leading goal scorer for the Belgian national team, with 68 goals in 104 matches. You can’t argue with those numbers. Even as he maintains his peak performance, Belgium will depend on this forward to spearhead their path to triumph in the forthcoming years.
Conclude
To encapsulate, the significance of Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku transcends mere statistics or accolades; they symbolize the zenith of Belgian footballing excellence. Their influence reaches beyond their achievements within club football, resonating with the pride they instill in their nation as they display their talents on the global stage of international competition. As they continue to dazzle audiences with their brilliance, De Bruyne and Lukaku serve as beacons of inspiration for aspiring footballers everywhere, reminding us all that with talent, dedication, and unwavering determination, anything is possible in the beautiful game.
