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From legendary goalkeepers to all-time great strikers, Belgium has produced some of football's finest talents. Join us as we select the ultimate all-time starting eleven for the Belgian national side, featuring icons from across the generations! Which Belgian legend deserves a spot in the lineup? Let us know in the comments below!
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00:10Welcome to the FIFA World Cup on WatchMojo, and today we're picking an all-time starting
00:1511 for the Belgian national side. Be sure to stick around for the full lineup because at
00:21the end of the video, we'll rapid fire through the very best players to watch out for in the
00:262026 tournament specifically.
00:30Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois Belgium has quite a strong history of producing
00:35world-class goalkeepers, and in terms of ability, achievement, and sheer consistency, Thibaut
00:41Courtois is the finest of them all. A towering presence, he combines elite reflexes with world-class
00:54positioning, making him one of the most complete goalkeepers of his era. He's also a two-time
01:00Premier League winner, a four-time La Liga winner, and a two-time Champions League winner.
01:06Who can forget the insane heroics in the 2022 final, a stunning performance that won him
01:12the Man of the Match award. One of the finest keepers of the 21st century.
01:17Right back, Eric Gerrits. The truly great wingbacks excel at both offense and defense in equal measure.
01:26Eric Gerrits was most certainly the real deal when it came to his work on both ends of the pitch.
01:32Blessed with relentless stamina and tactical intelligence, he was a key player for the PSV
01:38side that took home the 1988 European Cup. In fact, he wore the captain's armband and helped his team all
01:46the
01:46way to the penalty shootout, which they won 6-5. Internationally, he was crucial in Belgium's
01:53memorable runs in the 1980 Euros and the 1986 World Cup, and earned 86 caps before his retirement.
02:02Centre-back, Vincent Kompany. This iconic captain of Manchester City and the Belgian national team
02:09is the very definition of a modern legend. His presence on the pitch was unmistakable,
02:17and in a lot of ways, he was the ideal leader to help propel City into their long-awaited golden
02:23era.
02:24Not only did he bring immense physicality to the backline, but he was also remarkably composed in
02:30possession. On the rare occasion he decided to shoot a goal, he just so happened to have a rocket in
02:36his right
02:37leg. A four-time Premier League winner, the best he managed internationally was a third-place finish
02:43in the 2018 World Cup. However, Belgium could not have asked for a more impressive talisman at
02:50centre-back during that period. Centre-back, Toby Alderweireld. Alongside Vincent Kompany and Jan Vertonghen,
02:59Toby Alderweireld was an integral part of the Belgian Golden Generations backline, representing his
03:06country on 127 occasions. He also played in three World Cups in 2014, 2018 and 2022. At club level,
03:16he enjoyed success with Atletico Madrid, winning La Liga in 2014 and became a cornerstone of Tottenham
03:23Hotspur's defence during their rise to Premier League and Champions League contention. A formidable
03:30centre-back in the traditional sense, he also had world-class distribution skills, a reliable
03:36passer out of defence. During his 14 years of international service, he was generally one of
03:42the first names on the team sheet. Left-back, Jan Vertonghen. With 157 caps, Jan Vertonghen is the
03:51Belgian footballer with the most appearances in history. During his 19 years in the pro game,
04:05he notched up nearly 700 games for club and country. Most of you will remember him best for his time
04:11with Tottenham Hotspur, a very consistent spell for Vertonghen that Spurs transitioned into their
04:17status as an elite club in England. An intelligent player with excellent defensive fundamentals,
04:24he was capable of playing at left-back or centre-back and was reliable as they came during his prime.
04:30Whenever Vincent Kompany struggled with injuries, he teamed up with Toby Alderweireld to form a strong
04:36partnership. Right midfielder, Francois van der Elst. As a major presence during Belgium's iconic
04:431980 European Championships run, Francois van der Elst's ten years at the international level
04:50were some of the most memorable in the country's history. Technically gifted and tactically intelligent,
04:56he combined creativity with an eye for goal from midfield. All in all, he was a clear example of
05:03skill and elegance in perfect balance. His prime years were spent winning trophy after trophy with
05:09Belgian giants Anderlecht, taking home two European Cup Winners Cups, two Super Cups and a pair of
05:17first division titles. No starting eleven of all-time great Belgian players would be complete without a
05:23mention for this legend. Centre midfield, Kevin De Bruyne. There's an argument to be made that Kevin
05:30De Bruyne is the single most technically skilled Belgian footballer of all time.
05:41It's not a contentious argument to make either. He combines extraordinary vision, elite tempo control
05:48and some of the best passing in football history – skills that combined to create the ultimate
05:54playmaker. A six-time Premier League champion with Manchester City, who also won a Champions League
06:01medal in 2023, the opportunity for one last World Cup attempt is a huge deal for KDB's legacy. His career
06:09is the type that deserves one final moment of huge significance. The only question now is whether he can
06:16pull it off. Centre midfield, Jan Kulemans. There was a long period of time where Jan Kulemans held the
06:24all-time appearance record for the Belgian national team. At his peak, he was a force to be reckoned with
06:37in the centre of the pitch. A six-foot-three powerhouse with exceptional aerial ability and stamina,
06:43a constant presence from the first to the last minute. He spent the majority of his career at
06:49Club Brugge, emerging as a real centre point of Belgian footballing identity. Internationally,
06:56he led his country during a golden period that included the 1980 European Championship final
07:02and the remarkable run to the 1986 World Cup semi-finals. To this day, he is still regarded as a
07:09major figure
07:10in the country's footballing history, an icon in the truest sense. Left midfield, Eden Hazard.
07:18Any discussion over the greatest Belgian footballer of all time will either land on
07:23Kevin De Bruyne or the mighty Eden Hazard. This Chelsea and Real Madrid player may have seen his career
07:40cut short at just 32 years old, but the amount he achieved before that point is truly astounding.
07:46With Chelsea, he won two Premier League titles and a pair of Europa Leagues. He then moved to Real
07:53Madrid and took home two La Liga titles and a Champions League medal. Known for dazzling dribbling,
07:59balance, acceleration and creativity, he was the type of player who was able to change matches
08:05single-handedly. A global star and a leading figure in the golden generation.
08:11Stryker Paul van Heemst Prior to the modern era, you'd be hard-pressed to find a Belgian goat pick
08:18who was better than Paul van Heemst. Regarded as the country's greatest player of the 20th century,
08:25van Heemst was a complete footballer with excellent vision, dribbling skills and a predatory mindset in
08:32front of goal. The vast majority of his career was spent leading Anderlecht through a particularly
08:38fruitful period in the 60s and 70s. He won eight league titles and four Belgian Cups while also
08:45helping his national side reach third in the 1972 European Championships. He was a leading figure in
08:53Belgian football who inspired several of the generations who followed him.
08:58Stryker Romelu Lukaku As Belgium's all-time top goalscorer, Romelu Lukaku is perhaps the most
09:06dominant forward the country has ever produced. A physical force with explosive athleticism,
09:22Lukaku is a centre-back's worst nightmare. Though sometimes guilty of inconsistency in big games,
09:29Lukaku has done enough in his career to be worthy of high praise. Season after season,
09:35he answers his critics with the type of numbers that back up his reputation. Whether he can finally
09:41make a major impact deep into a World Cup remains to be seen, but he will have a huge chance
09:47to make
09:47this mark in the summer of 2026. Subs Bench
09:53Jean-Marie Vaaf, exceptional goalkeeper known for leadership during Belgium's 1986 heroics.
10:00Georges Grun, versatile defender and linchpin of Belgium's 1980s and 1990s teams.
10:08Thomas Vermeulen, 21st century great who represented Arsenal and Barcelona.
10:14Wilfred van Moor, key member of the 1970 and 1982 World Cup squads.
10:20Enzo Schifo, creative playmaker famous for technical skill and World Cup performances.
10:27Bernard Warhoof, prolific forward holding Belgium's top scoring record for 34 years.
10:34Jeff Mermans, helped establish Anderlecht as a dominant force in Belgian football.
10:41Dries Mertens, stylish attacker and Napoli's all-time highest goalscorer.
10:46Raymond Brain, arguably Belgium's best player during the early 20th century.
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11:25So those are the greatest of all time, but how about right now?
11:29Who are the players you need to know before World Cup 2026 kicks off in America, Mexico and Canada?
11:36Jeremy Doku. If there's one player who truly represents the breakthrough of the next Belgian generation,
11:44it's Jeremy Doku.
11:46Alvarez to Doku at a bright first half at times, and here he goes. Oh, it's a moment of quality
11:53for this new talent in the Premier League.
11:57Though at 23, he still has all the time in the world to sharpen his tools. He will come into
12:03this
12:03tournament not as a prospect, but as a key player. Someone is going to push ahead of all others and
12:09establish themselves as the face of Belgian football for the next decade. With the right performances here,
12:16Doku could be in prime position to be that player.
12:23Thibaut Courtois. As the most experienced and decorated player in the Belgium squad,
12:29Thibaut Courtois is a guy who has seen and done it all at club level.
12:40However, despite being a core member of that golden generation of Belgium football,
12:45he has not succeeded in capturing the sport's top prize internationally.
12:49Courtois will be a leader in this team, and at 33, he will likely retain all of the attributes and
12:55skills
12:56that have made him a living legend. Kevin de Bruyne. Out of the entire Belgian team,
13:06there is no player who holds as much influence and acclaim as Kevin de Bruyne.
13:20However, at 34, there is no denying that this will likely be his final World Cup appearance.
13:26Although he is already regarded as one of the finest players of his generation, KDB has a chance to
13:34elevate his legacy to an entirely different level with a strong showing in this tournament.
13:41He has a great, deep, deep trouble now.
13:46Romelu Lukaku. When it comes to Romelu Lukaku, the name of the game is simple. Goals win games,
13:54and few players in Belgian history score them more freely as he does.
13:59Brachmani finding somebody, Lukaku is through here, Lukaku!
14:04If he maintains his fitness, this all-time goal scorer will likely play a key role
14:10in the Belgian offense. At 32, he is still showing prime form, and whether it's his last World Cup or
14:17not, he has a golden opportunity to truly do something huge for his country's chances here.
14:24Uri Tielemans. The composure and tactical discipline of Uri Tielemans will likely be a very valuable asset
14:32to Belgium in the summer of 2026.
14:42In the heart of midfield, he will serve as captain, anchoring all attacks with his superb vision,
14:48passing, and tempo control. At 28, he is more than capable of appearing in subsequent World Cups,
14:55but this one just so happens to be arriving at what we assume is the peak of his physical prime.
15:07But how do you predict Belgium will do in the 2026 World Cup? Let us know in those comments below!
15:14Outro Music
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