Greatest Belgian Footballers of all-time

No.21 Georges Grün

No.20 Armand Swartenbroeks

No.19 Daniel Van Buyten

No.18 Luc Nilis

Nilis's playing style was characterized by elegance, technical brilliance, and a keen eye for goal. Operating primarily as a forward or attacking midfielder, he possessed superb dribbling skills, close ball control, and an exquisite first touch. Nilis was equally adept at scoring goals himself as he was at creating opportunities for his teammates. His lethal left foot and accurate finishing made him a constant threat in front of goal.

No.17 Francois Van der Elst

No.16 Marc Wilmots

One of the best midfielders to come out of Belgium, Marc Wilmots played over 500 professional matches during his career and won several major trophies, including the UEFA Cup. Wilmots' leadership qualities and technical skills made him a valuable asset for both club and country, and he remains a respected figure in Belgian football.

No.15 Jean-Marie Pfaff

No.14 Franky Van Der Elst

No.13 Thibaut Courtois

No.12 Franky Vercauteren

No.11 Michel Preud'homme

Michel Preud'homme's playing career is a testament to his skill, leadership, and longevity. He was one of the greatest goalkeepers of his generation and a true legend of Belgian football. Preud'homme's impact on the game will be felt for generations to come, and his legacy as a player and coach is firmly cemented in football history.

No.10 Erwin Vandenbergh

Erwin Vandenbergh's playing career is a testament to his skill, versatility, and goalscoring ability. He was one of the greatest strikers in Belgian football history and a key player in Belgium's success in the 1980 European Championship. Vandenbergh's impact on the game will be felt for generations to come, and his legacy as a player and coach is firmly cemented in football history.

No.9 Romelu Lukaku

No.8 Wilfried Van Moer

No.7 Vincent Kompany

No.6 Eden Hazard

No.5 Eric Gerets

One of European football's greatest right backs, Eric Gerets was a mainstay of the Belgian national team from the mid 1970s right through to the early 1990s, captaining the Red Devils at three World Cups and amassing 86 caps along the way, second only to Jan Ceulemans when he retired in 1992.

An attack-minded full-back, he had 12 great years with Standard Liège before single seasons with Milan and MVV Maastricht. In 1985 he was signed by PSV Eindhoven and enjoyed an incredible career swansong at the Dutch club, winning six Eredivisie titles in seven seasons and captaining them to European Cup glory in 1988.

No.4 Enzo Scifo

Enzo Scifo was a midfield playmaker who seemingly had a bit of everything to his attacking game. He was equally adept at playing in an advanced attacking midfield role, on the right, or further back as a deep-lying playmaker, dictating the tempo of his team's play. It goes without saying that his passing was one of his strongest assets, be it his short game, linking up play and stitching moves together, or his precision on his cross-field balls or deeper passes to start quick counter-attacking moves. Scifo was fantastic carrying the ball too, his dribbling and darting runs proving a constant menace for the opposition. And to top it all, Scifo knew where the back of the net was. He may not have scored as many free-kicks as others in this list, but he was deadly in open-play from around the edge of the box, his trademark goals were often low drilled shots arrowing low into the corner of the net.

No.3 Kevin De Bruyne

One of European football's greatest right backs, Eric Gerets was a mainstay of the Belgian national team from the mid 1970s right through to the early 1990s, captaining the Red Devils at three World Cups and amassing 86 caps along the way, second only to Jan Ceulemans when he retired in 1992.

An attack-minded full-back, he had 12 great years with Standard Liège before single seasons with Milan and MVV Maastricht. In 1985 he was signed by PSV Eindhoven and enjoyed an incredible career swansong at the Dutch club, winning six Eredivisie titles in seven seasons and captaining them to European Cup glory in 1988.

No.2 Jan Ceulemans

Fantastic midfielder from the 1970s to the early 1990s, Jan Ceulemans was known for his technique, stamina, power and physical presence on the pitch, excellent heading ability, and powerful shooting. Ceulemans was a versatile player who could play in a variety of positions, including as a central midfielder, attacking midfielder, or even as an emergency forward. He was also an exceptional leader, captaining both his club and national teams, and was widely respected for his work ethic and commitment to the game.

No.1 Paul Van Himst

A legend not only of Anderlecht, but of Belgian football in general, Paul Van Himst was one of Europe's greatest forwards in the 1960s and 1970s.

His 16 years at Anderlecht would see him win eight Belgian league titles, and his ratio of a goal-every-other-game more than contributed to the success of Les Mauves et Blancs. Van Himst's footwork and dribbling skills would often result in opposition players resorting to fouls in an effort to stop him, and this would lead to his unusual nickname of Polle Gazon, which translates as Paul Lawn - a reference to the amount of times he would end up on the turf because of the fouls!

As well as outstanding technique, Van Himst could finish as well, and his combination of goals and assists enabled him to play as both a striker or in a playmaking role. He became the youngest ever recipient of the Golden Shoe (Belgian football's most prestigious award) when he won the award as a 17 year-old in 1960, and he'd go on to win it four times, which remains a record to this day.