Feature

Who is the Premier League's best ever Belgian player?

16 May 2020
Lukaku, Hazard, De Bruyne and Dembele, Belgian PL players

Lukaku? Hazard? De Bruyne? Dembele? Take a look at the leading numbers for stars from Belgium and cast your vote

Related Articles
Vote for the best player from select nations

Some exceptionally gifted players have come from overseas to light up the Premier League, and we are celebrating the talent that has arrived from some selected nations.

Belgium

Over the last decade, Belgian players have become increasingly influential in the Premier League.

Since Philippe Albert became the first to feature in the competition in August 1994 when he lined up for Newcastle United, a further 56 have played in the competition.

One of the most successful of those was Eden Hazard. He won the EA SPORTS Player of the Season award in 2014/15 in the first of his two title-winning campaigns with Chelsea.

His goals against Arsenal in 2016/17 and West Ham United in 2018/19 both won Budweiser Goal of the Month awards, while he also claimed the Cadbury Playmaker prize for producing the most assists in his final Premier League season.

Thibaut Courtois was a team-mate of Hazard's and won the Golden Glove in 2016/17 when he kept 16 clean sheets.

Romelu Lukaku also began his PL career with the Blues but went on to establish himself at Everton, following a successful loan spell at West Bromwich Albion, before joining Manchester United in 2017.  

The striker is the only Belgian to have reached the 100-goal mark in the competition. 

Top of the appearances list among Belgian players is Vincent Kompany, who has more PL winners' medals than any of his compatriots, with all four won as captain of Manchester City.

The centre-back was an influential presence at the Etihad Stadium, with his thunderous strike against Leicester City in May 2019 a defining moment of their most recent title-winning campaign.

Kompany was joined at Man City by fellow countryman Kevin De Bruyne in 2015.

De Bruyne leads all Belgians for assists in the competition.

Sixteen of his 62 assists came in 2017/18 when he won the inaugural Playmaker of the Season award.

Leading PL numbers for Belgians
Appearances Goals Assists
Vincent Kompany 265 Romelu Lukaku 113 Kevin De Bruyne 62
Marouane Fellaini  260 Eden Hazard 85 Eden Hazard 54
Romelu Lukaku  252 Christian Benteke 71 Romelu Lukaku 35
Eden Hazard 245 Marouane Fellaini  37 Christian Benteke 20
Simon Mignolet  245 Kevin De Bruyne 31 Kevin Mirallas 20

A trio of Belgians have made a significant impact at Tottenham Hotspur in recent seasons.

The country's most-capped player, Jan Vertonghen, established himself as one of the leading central defenders in the Premier League and has twice been named in the PFA Team of the Year.

Vertonghen was joined at Spurs by Toby Alderweireld in 2015 and like his fellow centre-back, was selected in the PFA Team of the Year in his first season with the club.

They, along with Mousa Dembele in midfield, were pivotal as Spurs conceded only 26 goals in 2016/17 to record a best finish of second.

You can watch a video of sensational Belgian goals above, and have a look at some eye-catching numbers in the table, before voting on who you think is the Premier League's best ever player from Belgium.

Tomorrow: Who is the best ever Argentinian?

Also in this series

See: Vote for the best player from select nations

Latest Videos

More Videos

Video is currently not available.

09 Dec 2024

Pundits: Are Chelsea genuine title contenders?

Glenn Hoddle, Ian Wright and Dan Burn on why Enzo Maresca's Blues can challenge for the Premier League title

Your details have been submitted successfully.

You have already entered this competition. Please check your email for further information.

Your details have been submitted successfully.

Create a Premier League account

Continue

You are logged in as

Enter your details