All-Time Belgium National Team Best XI (Hazard, De Bruyne, Courtois)

All-time Belgium best XI – Belgium national team is one of national football team from Europe. Belgium might be not among strongest team in Europe, but they have several golden generations when they are among the best team in the Europe, which are in 20s, 80s and in recent years.

Belgium still never win major trophy in football, though they get Gold Medal in Olympics 1920. Their best achievement are finishing runner-up in Euro 1980 and third-place finish in World Cup 2018.

In 20s era, Belgium are among the best football team in the world. Though football is not professional yet in that era, but Belgium football are at their highest, winning Gold Medal in 1920 Olympics when World Cup is not held yet.

Belgium reach their next golden generation in 80s. They reach Euro final in 1980 but lose to Germany. They also reach semifinal in World Cup 1986 and another knock-out round in 1990, 1994 and 2002 edition. Players like Enzo Scifo, Jan Ceulemans, Eric Gerets and Michel Preud’homme are the key players for Belgium in this era.

After years of unsuccesful qualifying, Belgium reach another golden generation, starting with World Cup 2014. They achieve their best result in World Cup in 2018, finish in third-place. Belgium also reach quarter final in World Cup 2014, Euro 2016 and Euro 2020.

Players like Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois are the world superstars that become key part of Belgium recent success. Other player like Jan Vertonghen, Axel Witsel, Toby Alderweireld and Dries Mertens also play big part for Belgium national team.

All-Time Belgium Best XI

Of course it’s hard to select 11 of best Belgium players of all time in each position. Below is our selection of all-time Belgium national team best XI.

GOALKEEPER

1. Thibaut Courtois

Date of birth : 11 May 1992
Position : Goalkeeper
Caps / goals : 102 caps / 0 goal
Club career :

• 2009-2011 – Genk (Belgium)
• 2011-2018 – Chelsea (England)
• 2011-2014 – Atletico Madrid (Spain) (loan)
• 2018-current – Real Madrid (Spain)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 2014, 2018, 2022
• UEFA Euro 2016, 2020

Substitutes :

• Michel Preud’homme (1979-1994), 58 caps
• Jean-Marie Pfaff (1976-1987), 64 caps
• Christian Piot (1969-1977), 40 caps
• Jan De Bie (1920-1930), 33 caps

DEFENDER

2. Vincent Kompany

Date of birth : 10 April 1986
Position : Center-back
Caps / goals : 89 caps / 4 goal
Club career :

• 2003-2006 – Anderlecht (Belgium)
• 2006-2008 – Hamburg (Germany)
• 2018-2019 – Manchester City (England)
• 2019-2020 – Anderlecht (Belgium)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 2014, 2018

3. Walter Meeuws

Date of birth : 11 July 1951
Position : Center-back
Caps / goals : 46 caps / 0 goal
Club career :

• 1970-1972 – KRC Mechelen (Belgium)
• 1972-1978 – Beerschot (Belgium)
• 1978-1981 – Club Brugge (Belgium)
• 1981-1984 – Standard Liege (Belgium)
• 1984-1985 – Ajax (Netherlands)
• 1985-1987 – KV Mechelen (Belgium)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 1982
• UEFA Euro 1980

4. Eric Gerets

Date of birth : 18 May 1954
Position : Right-back
Caps / goals : 86 caps / 2 goal
Club career :

• 1971-1983 – Standard Liege (Belgium)
• 1983-1984 – AC Milan (Italy)
• 1984-1985 – MVV (Netherlands)
• 1985-1992 – PSV (Netherlands)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 1982, 1986, 1990
• UEFA Euro 1980

5. Jan Vertonghen

Date of birth : 24 April 1987
Position : Center-back, left-back
Caps / goals : 148 caps / 9 goal
Club career :

• 2006-2012 – Ajax (Netherlands)
• 2006-2007 – RKC Waalwijk (Netherlands) (loan)
• 2012-2020 – Tottenham (England)
• 2020-2022 – Benfica (Portugal)
• 2022-current – Anderlecht (Belgium)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 2014, 2018, 2022
• UEFA Euro 2016, 2020

Substitutes

• Toby Alderweireld (2009-current), 127 caps, 5 goals
• Thomas Vermaelen (2006-2021), 85 caps, 2 goals
• Daniel Van Buyten (2001-2014), 83 caps, 10 goals
• Philippe Albert (1987-1997), 41 caps, 5 goals
• Georges Grun (1984-1995), 77 caps, 6 goals
• Laurent Verbiest (1960-1965), 23 caps, 0 goal
• Thomas Meunier (2013-current), 62 caps, 8 goals
• Michel Renquin (1976-1987), 55 caps, 0 goal
• Armand Swartenbroeks (1913-1928), 50 caps, 0 goal

MIDFIELDER

6. Wilfried Van Moer

Date of birth : 1 March 1945
Position : Midfielder
Caps / goals : 57 caps / 9 goals
Club career :

• 1964-1965 – Beveren (Belgium)
• 1965-1968 – Royal Antwerp (Belgium)
• 1968-1976 – Standard Liege (Belgium)
• 1976-1980 – Beringen (Belgium)
• 1980-1982 – Beveran (Belgium)
• 1982-1984 – Sint-Truiden (Belgium)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 1970, 1982
• UEFA Euro 1980

7. Kevin De Bruyne

Date of birth : 28 June 1991
Position : Midfielder
Caps / goals : 99 caps / 26 goals
Club career :

• 2008-2012 – Genk (Belgium)
• 2012-2014 – Chelsea (England)
• 2012-2013 – Werder Bremen (Germany) (loan)
• 2014-2015 – Wolfsburg (Germany)
• 2015-current – Manchester City (England)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 2014, 2018, 2022
• UEFA Euro 2016, 2020

8. Eden Hazard

Date of birth : 7 January 1991
Position : Winger, attacking midfielder
Caps / goals : 111 caps / 32 goals
Club career :

• 2007-2012 – Lille (France)
• 2012-2019 – Chelsea (England)
• 2019-2023 – Real Madrid (Spain)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 2014, 2018, 2022
• UEFA Euro 2016, 2020

9. Jan Ceulemans

Date of birth : 28 February 1957
Position : Attacking midfielder
Caps / goals : 96 caps / 23 goals
Club career :

• 1974-1978 – Lierse (Belgium)
• 1978-1992 – Club Brugge (Belgium)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 1982, 1986, 1990
• UEFA Euro 1980, 1984

Substitutes :

• Franky Van der Elst (1973-1983), 44 caps, 14 goals
• Axel Witsel (2008-2022), 130 caps, 12 goals
• Timmy Simons (2001-2016), 94 caps, 6 goals
• Rene Vandereycken (1975-1986), 50 caps, 3 goals
• Marouane Fellaini (2007-2018), 87 caps, 18 goals
• Radja Nainggolan (2009-2018), 30 caps, 6 goals
• Enzo Scifo (1984-1998), 84 caps, 18 goals
• Joseph Jurion (1955-1967), 64 caps, 9 goals
• Leon Semmeling (1961-1973), 35 caps, 2 goals
• Bart Goor (1999-2008), 78 caps, 13 goals

FORWARD

10. Paul Van Himst

Date of birth : 2 October 1943
Position : Striker
Caps / goals : 81 caps / 30 goals
Club career :

• 1959-1975 – Anderlecht (Belgium)
• 1975-1976 – Molenbeek (Belgium)
• 1976-1977 – Eendracht Aalst (Belgium)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 1970
• UEFA Euro 1972

11. Romelu Lukaku

Date of birth : 13 May 1993
Position : Striker
Caps / goals : 108 caps / 75 goals
Club career :

• 2009-2011 – Anderlecht (Belgium)
• 2011-2014 – Chelsea (England)
• 2012-2013 – West Brom (England) (loan)
• 2013-2017 – Everton (England)
• 2017-2019 – Manchester United (England)
• 2019-2021- Inter Milan (Italy)
• 2021-current – Chelsea (England)
• 2022-2023 – Inter Milan (Italy) (loan)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 2014, 2018, 2022
• UEFA Euro 2016, 2020

Substitutes :

• Dries Mertens (2011-current), 109 caps, 21 goals
• Raymond Braine (1925-1939), 52 caps, 23 goals
• Frank Vercauteren (1977-1988), 63 caps, 9 goals
• Marc Wilmots (1990-2002), 70 caps, 29 goals
• Bernard Voorhoof (1928-1940), 61 caps, 30 goals
• Henri Coppens (1949-1959), 47 caps, 21 goals
• Joseph Mermans (1945-1956), 56 caps, 28 goals
• Emile Mpenza (1997-2009), 57 caps, 19 goals

Belgium National Team All-Time Best XI

That’s our pick for 11 of greatest Belgium players of all time in each position. What do you think? Write down your pick in comment below.