Famous Belgian Football Players

One of the best Belgian footballers of all time, Eden Hazard is also regarded as one of the best players of the current generation. Thanks to his ability to retain possession among other footballing skills, Hazard is often compared with players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Romelu Lukaku, the Belgian football player, is known for his goal-scoring abilities. He plays in the forward position and can also play as a winger. He has scored more than 50 international goals while playing for the men’s national team of Belgium. Inter Milan, Chelsea, West Bromwich Albion, Everton and Manchester United are some of the clubs he has played for.

Belgian footballer Thibaut Courtois who is a goalkeeper for the Spanish club Real Madrid is considered one of the best of his time. Starting his career with Genk, he later also played for Chelsea. He was also part of the FIFA World Cup third place-holding Belgian squad in 2018.

Considered one of the fittest central defenders of the world, retired Belgian footballer Vincent Kompany had a successful stint with Manchester City, winning 4 Premier League titles, among other championships, with them. Post-retirement, the star footballer had turned to coaching and now manages the English club Burnley.

Belgian professional football-forward Divock Origi plays for Belgium and AC Milan. During his eight-year tenure with Liverpool, he achieved several feats with the club including winning 2019–20 Premier League and the club’s first FIFA Club World Cup title (2019). He played for Belgium during 2014 FIFA World Cup, and became the youngest goal-scorer in the country’s World Cup history.

Adnan Januzaj is a Belgian football player who plays for the Belgium national team as a midfielder. In 2018, he helped his national team win the bronze medal at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Adnan Januzaj is also currently a part of the Sevilla Fútbol Club.

Often described as a complete football player, Kevin De Bruyne is also widely regarded as one of the best players of his generation. Over the years, he has had a major impact on the Manchester City Football Club, helping his team win several games. He is also a key player for the Belgian national football team.

Belgian footballer Jan Vertonghen is best known as a central defender for the club Anderlecht. Starting his senior career with the club Ajax, he has also had successful stints with Tottenham Hotspur and Benfica. He was part of the FIFA World Cup third-place-winning Belgian team in 2018.

Belgian footballer Toby Alderweireld is best known as a defender for Royal Antwerp. Starting his senior career with Ajax, he later also had successful stints with clubs such as Atlético Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur. He was also part of the Belgian squads that played at the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cup games.

Belgian footballer Dries Mertens, also known as Ciro, is a striker/winger for the Turkish club Galatasaray. Starting his senior career with Gent, he has also represented the Italian club Napoli and the Dutch club Utrecht. He was also part of the FIFA World Cup third-place-winning Belgian squad of 2018.

Belgian footballer Michy Batshuayi now plays as a striker for the Turkish club Fenerbahçe. Starting his career with Standard Liège, he later had successful stints with clubs such as Marseille and Chelsea, winning a Premier League and 2 FA Cups with the latter. He also won the Ebony Shoe Award in 2013-14.

Belgian professional football-midfielder Youri Tielemans plays for the Belgium national team and Leicester City. His achievements so far include winning Belgian First Division A (2013–14, 2016–17) with Anderlecht and FA Cup (2020–21) with Leicester City; and becoming Belgian Professional Footballer of the Year (2016–17). He represented Belgium during 2018 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2020.

Belgian footballer Radja Nainggolan, who plays as a midfielder for Antwerp, has also played for teams such as Cagliari and Piacenza. He began his football career with Tubantia Borgerhout at age 5. A diverse player, he won the Serie A in 2020-2021 with Inter Milan.

Retired Belgian footballer Mousa Dembélé was best known as a central midfielder for clubs such as Fulham, AZ, and Tottenham Hotspur. He has also played for the Chinese club Guangzhou City and been part of the FIFA World Cup third-place-winning Belgian team in 2018.

Belgian football winger and wing-back Yannick Ferreira Carrasco plays for the Belgium national team and Atlético Madrid. His achievements so far include winning Ligue 2 (2012–13) with Monaco; and La Liga (2020–21) and UEFA Europa League (2017–18) with Atlético Madrid. He played for Belgium national team during UEFA European Championship (2016, 2020) and 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Moroccan-origin Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini is a midfielder for the Chinese Super League club Shandong Taishan. Starting his senior career with Standard Liège, he has also played for Everton and Manchester United. He is the son of a footballer who had to become a bus driver due to lack of paperwork.

Nacer Chadli is a Belgian football player who plays as a midfielder for the Belgium national team. In 2018, he helped his nation win the bronze medal at the FIFA World Cup in Russia. Nacer Chadli also represented Belgium at the 2020 UEFA European Football Championship. A versatile midfielder, Nacer Chadli has also played for popular clubs like Tottenham Hotspur.

Belgian footballer Axel Witsel plays as a midfielder for the Spanish club Atlético Madrid. Starting his senior career with Standard Liège, he later had successful stints with teams such as the Russian club Zenit Saint Petersburg and the German club Borussia Dortmund. He also played in the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups.

Retired Belgian footballer Thomas Vermaelen was a prominent defender and had successful stints with clubs such as Ajax, Arsenal, and Barcelona. He won 4 La Liga titles, among other championships, with Barcelona. An Olympian, he was also part of the Belgian squads that played in the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups.

Belgian footballer Simon Mignolet is best known as a goalkeeper for Club Brugge. Starting his senior career with the club Sint-Truiden, he has also later had a successful stint with Liverpool, winning a UEFA Champions League with the latter. He was also part of the FIFA World Cup third-place-winning Belgian team in 2018.

The son of Brazilian footballer Marcos Pereira, Andreas Pereira is a fine midfielder in his own right and plays for Fulham. The Belgian-born footballer started his senior career with the club Manchester United. While he initially represented the youth teams of both Belgium and Brazil, he later joined the Brazilian senior national team.

Kevin Mirallas is a Belgian football player who plays as a midfielder. Mirallas represented the Belgium national football team from 2007 to 2018, during which he competed in important tournaments including the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Renowned for his passing ability and pace, Kevin Mirallas has also played for popular clubs like Olympiacos and Everton.

The son of a former Congolese footballer, Belgian-born Dedryck Boyata is a well-known defender in his own right. Starting his senior football career with Manchester City, he later has successful stints with clubs such as Celtic, before switching to Club Brugge. He was part of the 2018 FIFA World Cup third-place-winning squad.

Belgian football manager Marc Wilmots has previously been a player with teams such as Standard Liège and Schalke 04 and has even won a UEFA Cup with the latter. He was also later elected to the Belgian senate, as a Reformist Movement member but later announced his decision to resign.

Belgian footballer Richie de Laet, who is a well-known defender, started his senior career with Royal Antwerp. He later had successful stints with clubs such as Leicester City and Middlesbrough, winning a Premier League with the former. He was also named the 2009-10 Denzil Haroun Reserve Team Player of the Year.

Michel Preud'homme is a Belgian former footballer. He played as a goalkeeper for the Belgium national football team from 1979 to 1994. In 1994, he was adjudged IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper of the Year. The same year, he was also named Best European Goalkeeper of the Year. Michel Preud'homme was also named Belgian Goalkeeper of the Year on four occasions.

Daniel Van Buyten is a Belgian retired football player who played for the Belgium national football team from 2001 to 2014. Van Buyten exploited his aerial ability and physical strength to achieve good results for his team. Daniel Van Buyten was also a part of Bayern Munich and became the first Belgian to win the UEFA Champions League in 2013.

Nicknamed Little Pele during his youth football days, Italian-origin Belgian footballer Enzo Scifo was a well-known midfielder. He scripted history as one of the 3 Belgian players to be part of 4 FIFA World Cups. He also had a successful stint with Anderlecht, winning 4 Belgian First Division titles with them.

Moroccan footballer Nabil Dirar, who plays as a winger, moved to Belgium as a teenager and started his senior football career with the Belgian club Diegem Sport. Though he wished to represent the Belgian national team, he was ineligible due to his participation in the Morocco U23 team.

Belgian footballer Dennis Praet, who plays as a central midfielder, spent most of his youth football career with Genk, before starting his senior career with Anderlecht. He later won an FA Cup with Leicester City and was also awarded the Belgian Golden Shoe in 2014.

Steven Defour is a Belgian retired football player who played as a midfielder for the Belgium national football team from 2006 to 2017, during which he competed in important tournaments including the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Steven Defour was also a prominent player for several famous clubs like Standard Liège, Porto, and Anderlecht.

Jan Ceulemans is a Belgian retired football player who played for the Belgium national football team from 1977 to 1991. A prolific goalscorer, Ceulemans was renowned for his technique, aerial ability, and stamina. He was also famous for his imposing frame, power, and natural authority. In 1980, Jan Ceulemans helped his team finish second at the UEFA European Championship.

Jelle Van Damme is a Belgian former football player who played for the Belgium national football team from 2003 to 2014. Renowned for his versatility, Van Damme played as a midfielder or defender. Apart from the national team, Jelle Van Damme also played for popular clubs like Anderlecht and Standard Liège.  

Laurent Ciman is a Belgian retired football player who played for the Belgium national football team from 2010 to 2018, during which he was part of the Belgian squad for many prominent tournaments, including the 2008 Olympic Games, 2014 World Cup, and UEFA Euro 2016. In 2021, Laurent Ciman started his coaching career as an assistant coach for CF Montréal.          

Omar El Kaddouri is a professional football player who plays as a midfielder for the Morocco national football team. Born in Belgium, El Kaddouri represented the Belgium team at the youth level before playing for Morocco. Currently an important player for PAOK FC, Omar El Kaddouri has also been a part of other popular clubs like Brescia and Napoli.

Jean-Marc Bosman is a Belgian retired football player best known for his judicial challenge, which led to the famous and important Bosman ruling in 1995. This landmark judgement concerning the football transfer rules allowed football players within the European Union to move to another club hassle-free at the end of their current contract. 

Belgian football manager Luc Nilis, who has coached teams such as Belisia Bilzen and Genk, has also had a successful playing career with clubs such as Anderlecht, PSV, and Aston Villa. He is also a 2-time Belgian Bronze Shoe winner and received the Golden Shoe Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001.

Anthony Vanden Borre is a Belgian retired football player who played for the Belgium national football team from 2004 to 2014. Best known for his versatility, Vanden Borre was equally effective as a defender and as a midfielder. Apart from the national team, Anthony Vanden Borre also played for popular clubs like Anderlecht and Genk.        

Belgian footballer Maxime Lestienne plays as a winger. Starting his career with Mouscron, he later had successful stints with the Qatari club Al-Arabi, the Russian club Rubin Kazan, and others, before switching to the Singaporean club Lion City Sailors. He has also played for the Belgian youth teams.

Belgian footballer Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe was just 5 years of age when he joined the youth team of Gent. He later began his senior career with Anderlecht, winning the 2006 Belgian Super Cup with them. He also won the 2016-17 Ekstraklasa with Legia Warsaw and the 2012-22 Belgian Cup with Gent.

Belgian footballer Jelle Vossen, who plays as a striker, began his senior career with Genk, a club with which he won the Belgian Cup twice, among other titles. He also had a successful stint with Club Brugge before he switched to Zulte Waregem. He also represents the Belgian national team.

Eric Gerets is a Belgian former football player who played as a defender for the Belgium national football team from 1975 to 1991. Counted among the greatest Belgian players of all time, Gerets was renowned for his tactical discipline, stamina, grit, and mental toughness during his playing career. Over the years, Eric Gerets has also had success as a manager.    

Jean-Marie Pfaff is a Belgian retired football player who played for the Belgium national football team from 1976 to 1987, during which he competed in important tournaments like the 1982 and 1986 World Cups. In 1983 and 1987, Jean-Marie Pfaff was named European Goalkeeper of the Year. In 2004, he was named in Pele's FIFA 100 list.