Who makes the greatest Belgian World Cup team of all time?

Despite never having won the World Cup itself, Belgium has a surprisingly rich history in the tournament itself. The European nation has appeared in no less than 13 editions of the tournament finals. Their best result came in 2018 where they finished third although they would also reach the same stage in 1986. The country has often been blessed with very gifted technical players but failed to leave up to some lofty expectations. A surprising feat for a side that spent has spent much of the late 2010s and early 2020s as the top ranked side in world football. Considering all this recent talent in their midst, – just who makes our greatest Belgian World Cup team ever?

 

GK: Thibaut Courtois

Having developed at both Chelsea and Atletico Madrid, there was always a lot of promise for Thibault Courtois. He didn’t dwell on it either. With excellent reactions, ball control and overall athleticism, he quickly earned a spot in the Belgium national side debuting in 2011 aged 19.

He was a part of the Belgian team who qualified for the 2014 World Cup and reached the last eight as part of a stout defence. It would be 2018 where he really came out of his shell. He was a monster in the net for Belgium in Russia keeping three sheets in the tournament including two against England.

He also made 27 saves in seven games – a tournament best stat. It was the reason why he was awarded the Golden Glove prize as well as subsequently earning a spot in the All-Star Team. It proved why Courtois is considered one of the best keepers of the current generation.

 

RB: Eric Gerets

Despite being known for his managerial exploits, Eric Gerets was also a top player on the pitch. Often deployed as a right-back, Gerets was someone who known for his excellent fitness and ability to get into advanced positions on the touchline. He proved to be a staple of the squads that appeared at both the 1982, 1986 and 1990 tournaments often making the knockout stages.

It was 1982 where he burst onto the scene and his excellent performances earned him a nomination for the 1982 Ballon D’Or award. He also featured prominently for the Belgian team that would finish fourth in the 1986 World Cup tournament.

After retiring in the early 1990s, Gerets remains highly ranked in national team records and with 12 games at the World Cup, he is joint fourth for most appearances at the World Cup.

 

LB: Jan Vertonghen

Capable of playing both in central defence and as a left-back, Jan Vertonghen has proven himself to be one of Europe’s most versatile defenders. Not only does he have excellent pace for a defender, his ball skills and aerial abilities makes him a formidable player anywhere on the pitch. His versatility has made him a modern mainstay of the Belgium squad featuring at both the 2014 and 2018 World Cup tournaments.

He was part of a defence that kept 3 clean sheets in the 2018 tournament as well as finishing third – the best result ever for Belgium at the World Cup. It has been a momentous part of a career that has seen Vertonghen win over 130 caps for his country and set a new national record for most appearances.

 

CB: Vincent Kompany

There are few players who are as committed on the pitch as Vincent Kompany. He had no real weaknesses in his game and could dispatch passes just as well as he could muscle someone off the ball. These abilities, alongside one of the coolest composures around, made him one of the main stars of the modern Belgium side.

It was the reason why he captained the Belgian team at the 2014 World Cup where they made the quarter finals for the first time in over 20 years and considered him one of the greatest of his generation. A true reward for one of the most skilful defenders of his time.

 

CB: Georges Grun

A mainstay of the Belgium squad of the late 1980s and early 1990s, George Grun was someone who never gave up. Deployed as a central defender, Grun would often run the ball clear instead of hoofing it upfield. This made him a highly sought after squad member and could also be used as a midfield anchor when necessary. His ball-playing skills made him an impressive part of the 1986 World Cup side that finished fourth as well as earning a Ballon D’Or nomination in 1993. A player who was often underrated during his playing days.

 

CM: Kevin De Bruyne

It took a little while for Kevin De Bruyne to find his form but he is now considered one of the best midfield magicians in world football. It’s a skillset that has transferred to the international scene nicely with his laser-like passes and ball bending set-pieces carving defences open with ease.

It was in the 2018 World Cup where he really came to life including scoring the winning goal to knock Brazil out of the quarter finals. This form earned him a spot in the 2018 World Cup Dream Team and solidified himself as one of the top talents in football today.

 

CM: Franky Van Der Elst

Very few players were able to enjoy such a long career as Franky Van Der Elst. The defensive midfielder was as tenacious as he was skilful starting off attacks as well as nullifying ones from opponents. As it played such a key asset for the Belgian team, it meant that Van Der Elst appeared at no less than four World Cup finals from 1986-1998.

It was a career that saw him finish fourth in 1986 with Belgium as well as suffer multiple early eliminations in the 1990s. Despite all this, Van Der Elst has played in 14 World Cup matches – third for any Belgian player in the history of the competition.

 

CM: Enzo Scifo

Despite an Italian background, Enzo Scifo had a skillset that very few could cope with. With quick feet and excellent ball control, Scifo was a nightmare for defences whether he played centrally or on the wing. His debut appearances at the 1986 World Cup took the world by storm with two goals as Belgium finished fourth.

It was here where he also awarded the Best Young Player award at the tournament. His excellent form continued in 1990 where his spectacular strike against Uruguay was listed as one of the top ten best World Cup goals ever in 2002. Having appeared at four World Cups, Scifo is the most experienced Belgian to play at the tournament as he played in 17 matches from 1986-1998.

 

FW: Jan Ceulemans

For much of the 1980s and 2000s, Jan Ceulemans was the main attraction of the Belgium national time. His driving runs from midfield and taste for goals ensured he could play anywhere in the final third. Alongside his technical skills, his powerful shots made life difficult for keepers even more so.

It was this influence that made him the captain that guided the Belgian team to fourth in the 1986 World Cup. He would earn a nomination into the 1986 All Star XI for those efforts and continued to impress even in 1990 well towards the end of his career. At the time, Ceulemans held many Belgian records and is still the second-most experienced Belgian at the World Cup playing in no less than 16 games.

 

FW: Eden Hazard

Once Eden Hazard gets going, there is very little anyone can do to stop him. Known for his driving runs, vast skillset and ability to both create and convert chances, Hazard has proven to be a top attacker in the modern era. It’s a reason why he has been a major part of Belgium’s success in recent years shining particularly at the 2018 World Cup.

As captain of the side, Hazard led by example scoring four goals and earning three man of the match awards in Russia. It was this form that led him to earn the Silver Ball for second best player and a spot in the 2018 All-Star XI. An excellent result for a modern great.

 

FW: Romelu Lukaku

There isn’t much Romelu Lukaku hasn’t achieved in his career and he has continued to be a record-breaker for his country. With pace, power and skill, Lukaku has proven himself to be a goal machine whenever Belgium requires it. It would be 2018 where his skillset really shone through scoring back-to-back braces in Belgium’s opening group games.

He would later add an assist to the tally too earning him a nomination in the All-Star XI as well as the Bronze Boot for third best scorer at the tournament. It is an achievement befitting a striker who has scored 68 goals in 101 appearances making him the all-time top scorer for the Belgium national side.

 

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