11 Greatest Belgian Players in Football History (Ranked)
Blogs

11 Greatest Belgian Players in Football History (Ranked)

Who is the Best Belgian Player in Football History?

shutterstock_2258810767 (1).jpg

There can be a strong argument for the fact that there has been arguably no country in the world that has seen a bigger boom is footballing talent in the last 20 or so years than Belgium.

The country is not large, bordered by the much bigger France and Germany, as well as the Netherlands, and has a population of just 11 million as of 2024. But despite that, Belgium has produced some of the world's best players since the start of the 2010s. And despite not tasting success in major tournaments, the national team, the Red Devils, found themselves in the top spot of FIFA's men's national team ranking for four years between September 2018 and February 2022, undoubtedly an impressive feat.

But the country's list of talent goes back further than just recent memory too. And with that in mind, he is on our list of the eleven best Belgians to grace the beautiful game.

11: Jan Vertonghen

Belgium's most capped player with 157 appearances for the national team, Jan Vertonghen's leadership and longevity are extremely admirable.

The defender only retired in 2025 at Anderlecht at the age of 37, following a career that saw successful spells at Ajax and most notably Tottenham Hotspur.

Vertonghen came through the ranks at Ajax and made over 200 appearances for the Dutch giants, winning two league titles and captaining the side in his final season, where he won the league's Player of the Year. award.

After moving to Tottenham in 2012, Vertonghen became a key part in the side, and quickly established himself as one of the league's best defenders. Across eight years in North London, Vertonghen made over 300 appearances, won the club's Player of the Year award in 2018, and was named in the PFA Team of the Year in the 2012/13 season.

10: Enzo Scifo

A key figure for Belgium during the 1980s and 1990s, attacking midfielder Enzo Scifo was one of the central players in Belgium's original 'golden generation'. And was known for his creativity and technique.

At club level, Scifo saw much of his success at Anderlecht, where he made over 200 appearances and won the Belgian top flight four times across two spells. As well as playing for the likes of Inter Milan and Monaco.

At club level, Scifo saw much of his success at Anderlecht, where he made over 200 appearances and won the Belgian top flight four times across two spells. As well as playing for the likes of Inter Milan and Monaco.

On the national stage, Scifo appeared at four World Cups, a feat not matched by any other Belgian player so far, and was a key player for the side that achieved fourth place in the 1986 edition of the tournament.

9: Dries Mertens

One of Napoli's best-ever players, Dries Mertens is the club's all-time top goalscorer, with not even the legendary Diego Maradona having more goals for the Italian side.

Mertens transferred to Naples from PSV Eindhoven, and in nine years at the club, the Belgian forward scored 148 goals in 397 matches. However, he left a year before Napoli claimed a first league title since Maradona led them to the Scudetto in 1989-90, although Mertens did claim two Coppa Italia titles.

In 2022, Mertens moved to Galatasaray and saw unprecedented success in Istanbul, with three league titles in his three seasons, with Mertens claiming 44 assists and 25 goals in 136 matches before retiring at the age of 39.

Mertens also made over 100 appearances for the national team, and won Belgian Footballer of the Year in 2016.

8: Jan Ceulemans

Widely regarded as one of Belgium's greatest ever forwards, Jan Ceulemans may never have played outside Belgium but was heavily prolific in his native league.

Between 1978 and 1992, Ceulemans scored nearly 200 goals in over 400 appearances for Club Brugge. Winning both the Belgian league and Belgian Cup three times, as well as winning the Belgian Golden Shoe three times, the award for the Belgian league's best player.

On the international stage, Ceulemans scored 23 goals in 96 caps for the Belgium national team, and scored key goals on the side's way to the 1980 European Championships final and the semi-finals of the 1986 World Cup.

7: Romelu Lukaku

Belgium's all-time top goalscorer, Romelu Lukaku, may divide opinion amongst many to this day, but there is no denying his overall scoring record and CV.

The striker has scored over 400 career goals and has played for the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Napoli and Inter Milan.

After 87 goals in 166 matches for Everton, Lukaku got his big move to Old Trafford. However, inconsistency plagued him at United; despite a respectable overall record of 42 goals in 96 matches, he moved to Inter Milan in 2019, and that's where he reached his peak.

The Belgian scored 78 goals in 132 matches for Inter, helping the side to the 2020/21 Serie A title, and earned a £97 million move back to Chelsea; however, he failed to perform at Stamford Bridge and returned to Italy.

Now at Napoli, Lukaku is still scoring goals. And he is undoubtedly one of Belgium's greatest ever strikers.

6: Thibaut Courtois

One of the best goalkeepers of this generation, it takes a special stopper to be the undisputed number one at Real Madrid for nearly a decade, but that's exactly what Thibaut Courtois is.

After coming through the ranks at Genk, a teenage Courtois soon became the number one for the first team. And was key in Genk's 2010-11 title-winning season, winning the club's Player of the Year award. And as a result, it didn't take long before Courtois was snapped up by Chelsea.

Weeks after signing for the West London club. Courtois went on loan to Atletico Madrid, a loan which was eventually extended to three seasons in the Spanish capital. During his time at Atletico, Courtois won La Liga and the Copa Del Rey and reached the UEFA Champions League final. And when he returned to Stamford Bridge for the 2014-15 season, it was to replace Petr Cech as number one.

After three seasons and one Premier League title, Courtois returned to Madrid, but this time at Los Blancos.

Eight years, three league titles, and two UEFA Champions Leagues later, Courtois still remains a key player at the Santiago Bernabeu. And is widely regarded as one of, if not the, best goalkeeper in the world.

5: Vincent Kompany

A Manchester City legend and one of the greatest captains in the Premier League era, Vincent Kompany is arguably Belgium's greatest ever defender.

Signed from Hamburg just weeks before the record-breaking takeover of City, Kompany survived the incoming of talent throughout the years, remaining a key figure in the defence and captaining City for eight of the 11 seasons he spent at the club.

During his time at City, Kompany was included in the Team of the Year three times, in 2011, 2012 and 2014. And won the Player of the Season in 2012, as well as being a part of four Premier League titles, two FA Cups and four League Cups, cementing himself as one of the best centre backs ever seen in the Premier League.

4: Jean-Marie Pfaff

Another goalkeeper, and one that could very easily rival Thibaut Courtois as Belgium's greatest ever shot stopper.

Jean-Marie Pfaff appeared at two World Cups for Belgium, in the 1982 and 1986 editions of the tournament, and is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers of the 1980s and 90s. In fact, Pfaff's performances during the late 1980s led to him coming second in voting for the 1987 Ballon d'Or, an extremely impressive feat for a goalkeeper.

After making over 300 appearances in Belgium with SK Beereven and winning a league title and Belgian Cup, Pfaff transferred to Bayern Munich. Where he played a starring role in three consecutive Bundesliga title wins between 1984 and 1987.

At Bayern, Pfaff also helped lead the side to the European Cup Final in 1987, but they were beaten. Despite that, Pfaff's time in Munich cemented him as one of the era's greatest goalkeepers.

3: Eden Hazard

One of the most naturally gifted attacking players of the 2010s, Eden Hazard was widely regarded as perhaps the best player in the Premier League during his time at Chelsea.

After moving to Stamford Bridge from Lille in 2012, Hazard would go on to make over 300 appearances for Chelsea, score over 100 goals, and shine with his dribbling, skill and technique. Cementing himself as an all-time Premier League legend.

In seven years at the club, Hazard was named Chelsea's Player of the Year four times and won the PFA Player of the Year, two Premier League titles, a UEFA Champions League and a UEFA Europa League.

And despite not finding success later with Real Madrid, Hazard undoubtedly goes down as one of Belgium's all-time greats.

2: Paul Van Himst

THE original Belgian legend, Paul Van Himst, was the blueprint for every player on this list.

Anderlecht's greatest ever player, Paul Van Himst was named 'Belgian footballer of the twentieth century', and it's clear to see why. Van Himst spent almost his entire career with Anderlecht. Scoring over 300 goals for the club between 1959 and 1975.

During 16 seasons with the club, Van Himst won the Belgian championship eight times, the Belgian Cup three times and the Belgian Golden Shoe on four occasions, a record that still stands today.

For the national team, Van Himst was Belgium's top scorer with 30 goals before Lukaku broke his record and is still regarded as Belgium's greatest ever striker.

1: Kevin De Bruyne

Despite the legendary legacy of Van Himst, Kevin De Bruyne takes the top spot in this list.

Arguably the greatest midfielder the Premier League has ever seen, De Bruyne was the main star in one of the most dominant dynasties seen in English football. As in ten years at Manchester City between 2015 and 2025, De Bruyne won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five League Cups and a UEFA Champions League.

Described in the past as a 'complete player', De Bruyne in his prime years was capable of it all and made football at times look incredibly easy with his dribbling, vision, passing and ball striking.

Manchester City's Player of the Year four times, PFA Player of the Year in back-to-back years in 2019/20 and 2020/21 and Premier League Player of the Season in 2019/20 and 2021/22, De Bruyne is undoubtedly one of the best players ever seen in the Premier League and, in the modern era, the best Belgian to grace a football pitch.

Benji Kosartiyer
Journalist

Oliver Seymour

Freelance Content Writer

You May Also Like
See more
Who is Charlton Athletic Star Collins Sichenje?

Who is Charlton Athletic Star Collins Sichenje?

Settling the Issue: Is La Liga or the Premier League Better?

Settling the Issue: Is La Liga or the Premier League Better?

Top Ugandan Players Who Played in Europe’s Big Leagues

Top Ugandan Players Who Played in Europe’s Big Leagues

Videos
See more
Argentina's Massive Talent Pool | Off The Bar Podcast Episode 4 ft. Nacho Z
Seb & Colin Welcomes their first guest ‪@soynachoz‬ where they chat all things South American Football | Off the Bar Podcast Episod
Gyokeres Already a Failure? | Off The Bar Podcast Episode 3
Is Gyokeres already a flop? 🤔 VAR in the Championship & the West Ham Situation | Off The Bar with Colin & Seb Episode 3
Olise to win the next Ballon D'or | Off The Bar Podcast Episode 2
Did Dembele Deserve the Ballon D'or? 🏆 Olise the next winner? & players mental health! | Off The Bar with Colin & Seb Episode 2
Latest In Blogs
See more
What Happens if Spurs Actually Go Down? The True Cost of a 'Big Six' Drop Revealed

What Happens if Spurs Actually Go Down? The True Cost of a 'Big Six' Drop Revealed

Premier League Blog

Predicting Man Utd’s Remaining Fixtures – Can Carrick Provide a Top Four Finish?

Predicting Man Utd’s Remaining Fixtures – Can Carrick Provide a Top Four Finish?

Premier League Blog

Top 10 Worst Chelsea Center-Backs of All Time (Ranked)

Top 10 Worst Chelsea Center-Backs of All Time (Ranked)

Premier League Blog

Join our newsletter

Become a part of our community and never miss an update from Football Park.