Kevin De Bruyne

De Bruyne with Belgium in 2018

Personal information

Full name

Kevin De Bruyne^[1]

Date of birth

28 June 1991 (age 33)^[2]

Place of birth

Drongen, Belgium^[3]

Height

1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)^[4]

Position(s)

Midfielder

Team information

Current team

Manchester City

Number

17

Youth career

1997–1999

KVV Drongen

1999–2005

Gent

2005–2008

Genk

Senior career*

Years

Team

Apps

(Gls)

2008–2012

Genk

97

(16)

2012–2014

Chelsea

3

(0)

2012–2013

→ Werder Bremen (loan)

33

(10)

2014–2015

VfL Wolfsburg

52

(13)

2015–

Manchester City

281

(71)

International career^‡

2008–2009

Belgium U18

7

(1)

2009

Belgium U19

10

(1)

2011

Belgium U21

2

(0)

2010–

Belgium

109

(30)

Medal record

Men's football

Representing Belgium
FIFA World Cup
	2018

*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 09:30, 23 April 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:27, 23 March 2025 (UTC)

Kevin De Bruyne (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈkɛvɪn də ˈbrœynə]; born 28 June 1991) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for and captains both Premier League club Manchester City and the Belgium national team. Widely regarded as one of the best players of his generation and one of the greatest players in Premier League history, he is known for his passing, technique, shooting and playmaking.^[12]

After spending most of his youth career at KAA Gent, De Bruyne began his professional senior career at Genk, where he was a regular player when they won the 2010–11 Belgian Pro League. In 2012, he joined English club Chelsea, where he was used sparingly and then loaned to Werder Bremen. He signed with Wolfsburg for £18 million in 2014, establishing himself as one of the best players in the Bundesliga and was integral in the club's 2014–15 DFB-Pokal win. In the summer of 2015, De Bruyne joined Manchester City for a then-club record £54 million. He has since won the UEFA Champions League, six Premier League titles, five League Cups and two FA Cups with the club. In 2017–18, he had a significant role in City becoming the only Premier League team to attain 100 points in a single league season. In 2019–20, De Bruyne equalled the record for most assists in a Premier League season and was named Player of the Season, the award he won for the second time in 2021–22. He was again heavily involved in 2022–23, as Manchester City sealed the continental treble in their most successful season to date.

De Bruyne made his full international debut in 2010, and he has since earned over 100 caps, scoring 30 goals for Belgium. He was a member of the Belgian squads that reached the quarter-finals at both the 2014 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2016. De Bruyne was named in the FIFA World Cup Dream Team of the 2018 World Cup, as Belgium finished in third place, as well as appearing at Euro 2020, the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024.

De Bruyne has been named in the UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season and IFFHS Men's World Team six times each, ESM Team of the Year and the FIFA FIFPRO World 11 five times each, the UEFA Team of the Year three times, and the France Football World XI and the Bundesliga Team of the Year once each. He has also won the Premier League Playmaker of the Season three times, the PFA Players' Player of the Year twice, Manchester City's Player of the Year four times, the UEFA Champions League Midfielder of the Season, the Bundesliga Player of the Year, the Footballer of the Year (Germany), the Belgian Sportsman of the Year and the IFFHS World's Best Playmaker three times each. He was nominated for the prestigious Ballon d'Or award several times, ending third in the 2022 edition,^[5] and fourth in 2023.^[7]

Club career

[edit]

Genk

[edit]

De Bruyne began his career with hometown club KVV Drongen in 1997. Two years later, he joined KAA Gent under the guidance of coaches Jan Troos and Charly Musonda. They focused on his technique: basics, passing, shooting, dribbling. Later in an interview De Bruyne mentioned that their individual coaching had a great impact on his development.^[13] In 2005 he moved to Genk, where De Bruyne continued his development in their youth set-up and was rewarded for his progress by being promoted to the first team squad in 2008. From an Interview with his youth club KAA Gent, it was revealed that De Bruyne was a Liverpool fan and an admirer of Michael Owen.^[14]

De Bruyne made his first team debut for Genk in a 3–0 defeat at Charleroi on 9 May 2009.^[15] Having established himself in the team the following season,^[16] on 7 February 2010, De Bruyne scored his first goal for the club, which secured all three points for Genk in a 1–0 win against Standard Liège.^[17] He scored five goals and made 16 assists in 32 league matches during the 2010–11 season as Genk were crowned Belgian champions for the third time.^[18] On 29 October 2011, De Bruyne scored his first hat-trick for Genk against Club Brugge, which ended in a 5–4 win for Genk.^[19] On 28 January 2012, De Bruyne scored a brace against OH Leuven in a 5–0 win. On 18 February 2012, De Bruyne scored his first goal back at Genk following his agreed transfer to Chelsea and also assisted the other goal in a 1–2 away win against Mons. De Bruyne ended the season by wrapping up the scoring in a 3–1 victory over Gent. He finished the league campaign with eight goals from 28 appearances.

Chelsea

[edit]

On 31 January 2012, on the winter transfer deadline day, Premier League club Chelsea and Genk announced the permanent signing of De Bruyne, with the fee rumoured to be in the region of £7 million.^[20] He signed a five-and-a-half-year contract at Stamford Bridge, but would stay at Genk for the remainder of the 2011–12 season. De Bruyne told the club website, "To come to a team like Chelsea is a dream but now I have to work hard to achieve the level that's necessary."^[21]^[22] On 18 July 2012, De Bruyne made his debut for Chelsea in a friendly match against Major League Soccer (MLS) side Seattle Sounders FC in a 4–2 win. De Bruyne also played the first half against Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain at Yankee Stadium, New York City.

Werder Bremen (loan)

[edit]

On 31 July 2012, Chelsea announced that De Bruyne was to join Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga on a season-long loan deal.^[23] He scored his first goal for Bremen in a 3–2 defeat to Hannover 96 on 15 September, netting from 11 yards out after being played in by Eljero Elia.^[24]^[25] He continued his good form, scoring in Bremen's next game, a 2–2 draw with VfB Stuttgart, on 23 September.^[26]^[27] De Bruyne got back on the score sheet on 18 November, scoring the winning goal — despite his team being down to 10 men — as Bremen came from a goal down to defeat Fortuna Düsseldorf 2–1.^[28]^[29]

De Bruyne scored his first goal in over two months on 4 May 2013, since netting a consolation goal in Bayern Munich's 6–1 hammering of Bremen, putting his side up 2–0 at home to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim before a late brace from Sven Schipplock meant that the game finished 2–2.^[30]^[31] He followed this up with a goal in Bremen's next match, securing a place in the Bundesliga for the next season with a 1–1 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt on 11 May.^[32]^[33]

Return to Chelsea

[edit]

After a successful loan spell in the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen, De Bruyne was linked with a move to stay in Germany with either Borussia Dortmund or Bayer Leverkusen. Incoming manager José Mourinho, however, assured De Bruyne he was a part of Chelsea's plan for the future, and the player officially returned to Chelsea on 1 July 2013.^[34]

De Bruyne injured a knee while scoring his first goal for Chelsea, in a pre-season friendly game against a Malaysia XI,^[35] but was fit to make his competitive debut on the opening day of the 2013–14 Premier League season against Hull City, and made an assist for the first goal in a 2–0 win.^[36]

Wolfsburg

[edit]

2013–14 season

[edit]

On 18 January 2014, Wolfsburg signed De Bruyne for a fee of £18 million (€22 million).^[37] On 25 January 2014, he made his debut for Wolfsburg in a 3–1 home loss against Hannover 96.^[38] On 12 April 2014, De Bruyne assisted 2 goals in their 4–1 home win against 1. FC Nürnberg.^[39] After a week he scored his first goal for Wolfsburg in 3–1 away win against Hamburger SV.^[40] He also scored in the last two matches of the Bundesliga helping his team to win against VfB Stuttgart and Borussia Mönchengladbach.

2014–15 season

[edit]

De Bruyne scored his first goal of the 2014–15 season on 2 October 2014, volleying in a clearance from outside the box to salvage a 1–1 draw against Lille in the Europa League.^[41] In the third group match away to Krasnodar on 23 October, De Bruyne scored twice as Wolfsburg secured their first win in the competition with a 4–2 victory.^[42] On 30 January 2015, he scored another brace in a 4–1 home win against Bayern Munich, their first Bundesliga defeat since April 2014.^[43] On 1 March 2015, De Bruyne assisted three goals in a 5–3 win over his former club Werder Bremen.^[44]

On 12 March 2015, De Bruyne scored two goals in a 3–1 first leg Europa League round of 16 victory over Internazionale.^[45] On 15 March 2015, he scored one goal and assisted another two in 3–0 victory over SC Freiburg.^[46]

De Bruyne ended the league season with 10 goals and 21 assists, the latter a new Bundesliga record, as Wolfsburg finished second in the Bundesliga and qualified for the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League.^[47]^[N1] On 30 May 2015, he started and scored in the 2015 DFB-Pokal Final as Die Wölfe defeated Borussia Dortmund 3–1 at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.^[48]

De Bruyne ended his breakout season with 16 goals and 27 assists in all competitions,^[6] and was named the 2015 Germany Footballer of the Year.^[49]

2015–16 season

[edit]

De Bruyne began the season by winning the 2015 DFL-Supercup against Bayern Munich, providing the cross for Nicklas Bendtner's 89th-minute equaliser for a 1–1 draw and then scoring in the subsequent penalty shootout.^[50] On 8 August 2015, he continued his good form by scoring his first goal of the season, and providing two assists in a 4–1 win at Stuttgarter Kickers in the first round of the DFB-Pokal.^[51]

In August, in the midst of transfer speculation, De Bruyne said that he would not force Wolfsburg to sell him, but also said that he could not ignore interest from Manchester City, saying: "If an offer does come, I will hear about it and how much it is, but I have not yet heard anything... I would not go to England just to prove that I can play there. I do not have to go to England... If I go there it's because for me and for my family it is a good choice. That's the key for me."^[52]

On 10 August, it was reported that Manchester City had made a second bid for De Bruyne worth £47 million. Wolfsburg sporting director, Klaus Allofs, said the club would fight to keep him, saying "I think some other clubs have definitely turned Kevin's head... Some huge figures are doing the rounds and I can understand why Kevin is leaving everything open."^[53] On 27 August, it was reported that City had made a further bid for De Bruyne worth £58 million. Klaus Allofs said that City had made an "astonishing" wage offer to De Bruyne.^[54]

Manchester City

[edit]

2015–16 season

[edit]

On 30 August 2015, Manchester City announced the arrival of De Bruyne on a six-year contract, for a reported club-record fee of £55 million (€75 million), making him the second most expensive transfer in British football history after Ángel Di María's move to Manchester United in 2014.^[55]^[56] He made his debut for the team in the Premier League on 12 September against Crystal Palace, replacing the injured Sergio Agüero in the 25th minute.^[57] On 19 September, he scored his first goal for the club against West Ham United in first half stoppage time in an eventual 2–1 loss.^[58] He went on to score in a 4–1 League Cup win against Sunderland, on 22 September^[59] and a 4–1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on 26 September.^[60] On 3 October, he scored in the team's 6–1 win against Newcastle United.^[61]

On 2 October, De Bruyne was announced as one of the players on the longlist for the prestigious FIFA Ballon d'Or award, alongside teammates Agüero and Yaya Touré.^[62] Just 18 days later, on 20 October he was revealed by FIFA as one of the players on the 23-man shortlist for the Ballon d'Or.^[63] On 21 October, De Bruyne scored an injury-time winner against Sevilla in the UEFA Champions League, to take City within one point of group leaders Juventus, with three games remaining.^[64] On 1 December, he scored a brace in a 4–1 win over Hull City to send Manchester City through to the semi-finals of the Football League Cup.^[65]

On 27 January 2016, De Bruyne scored a goal in a League Cup semi-final 3–1 victory over Everton, but sustained an injury to his right knee that would keep him out of the team for two months.^[66] On 2 April, De Bruyne made his return from injury in a 4–0 win against Bournemouth at Dean Court, scoring the team's second goal in the twelfth minute.^[67] Four days later, he scored the opening goal in a 2–2 draw with Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first-leg at the Parc des Princes.^[68] On 12 April, De Bruyne scored the winning goal against Paris Saint-Germain, advancing Manchester City to the Champions League semi-finals, for the first time in the club's history, on an aggregate score of 3–2. Writing in The Independent, Mark Ogden said, "It was a stunning goal from the Belgian, who took a touch to control the ball before curling it beyond Kevin Trapp from the edge of the penalty area."^[69] De Bruyne's next goal came on 8 May in a 2–2 draw with Arsenal, although the result left City's Champions League qualification hopes out of their own hands.^[70]

2016–17 season

[edit]

"I think he is a special, outstanding player. He makes everything. Without the ball he is the first fighter, and with the ball he is clear – he sees absolutely everything."

—Pep Guardiola on 17 September 2016 describing De Bruyne after his brilliant performances for City^[71]

On 10 September 2016, De Bruyne scored and assisted in the first Manchester derby of the season which City won 2–1 and was awarded the Man of the Match.^[72] On 17 September, De Bruyne was awarded the Man of the Match, in a 4–0 win over Bournemouth. De Bruyne scored the first, assisted the fourth, and provided key passes on both the second and third goals.^[73] After the international break, Manchester City drew their next game, against Everton, played on 15 October with the scoreline finishing at 1–1. Agüero and De Bruyne both missed their penalties while Nolito came off the bench to equalise for City.^[74]

On 1 November 2016, De Bruyne scored from a free kick in the team's 3–1 win over FC Barcelona.^[75] On 21 January 2017, De Bruyne was involved in both of City's goals, as he netted once himself and also assisted Leroy Sané's, in a 2–2 home draw with Tottenham Hotspur; he was subsequently named man of the match.^[76] On 19 March, De Bruyne displayed an excellent performance in a 1–1 draw against Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium, where he set up a goal for Agüero.^[77]

2017–18 season

[edit]

De Bruyne set up both Agüero's and Gabriel Jesus' goals, on 9 September 2017, in a 5–0 home victory over Liverpool.^[78] On 16 September, De Bruyne assisted Agüero for his first goal in an eventual 6–0 win over Watford.^[79] On 26 September, De Bruyne scored his first goal of the 2017–18 season in a 2–0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk.^[80] On 30 September, he scored his first goal of the 2017–18 Premier League season, as City beat his former club Chelsea with a 1–0 scoreline at Stamford Bridge.^[81] On 14 October, De Bruyne provided two assists in a 7–2 win over Stoke City.^[82] On 5 November, De Bruyne scored in a 3–1 win over Arsenal.^[83] On 18 November, he scored in a 2–0 away win over Leicester City.^[84] On 29 November, he scored City's opener and assisted Raheem Sterling's last-minute winner in a 2–1 win over Southampton.^[85]

On 13 December 2017, De Bruyne scored in a 4–0 away win over Swansea City, which extended their record run of consecutive top-flight wins to 15 games.^[86]^[87] On 16 December, he scored in a 4–1 win over Tottenham Hotspur, with Pep Guardiola saying that De Bruyne is "helping the club become a better institution".^[88]^[89] On 27 December, De Bruyne provided an assist for Sterling's goal in a 1–0 win over Newcastle United.^[90] On 9 January, De Bruyne scored in a 2–1 win over Bristol City in the first leg of the semi-finals of the EFL Cup.^[91] On 20 January, he provided an assist for Agüero's first goal of the game (who scored a hat-trick in the game), in a 3–1 win over Newcastle United.^[92]^[93]

On 22 January 2018, De Bruyne signed a new long-term contract with the club, keeping him at the club until 2023.^[94]^[95] On 23 January, he scored the winning goal in a 3–2 win over Bristol City in the EFL Cup semi-final second leg, which helped City advance to the final, having won the tie by an aggregate scoreline of 5–3.^[95] On 31 January, he scored and assisted in a 3–0 win over West Bromwich Albion, and was voted BBC Man of the Match.^[95]^[96] On 10 February, he provided three assists, two for Agüero and one for Raheem Sterling, in a 5–1 win over Leicester City, taking his assists tally to 14.^[97]^[98] On 25 February, he started in the 2018 EFL Cup Final against Arsenal, and played the whole 90 minutes, with Manchester City winning 3–0 to obtain their first piece of silverware of the 2017–18 season, and their first trophy overall under Pep Guardiola.^[99]

On 31 March 2018, he provided an assist for Gabriel Jesus in a 3–1 win over Everton, ensuring that City would require only one more win to secure the Premier League title.^[100]^[101] On 22 April, he scored in a 5–0 win over Swansea City.^[102] On 13 May, on the final day of the season, De Bruyne assisted Gabriel Jesus' winning goal in a 1–0 win over Southampton, which took champions City's total points tally to 100. De Bruyne was also voted as BBC Man of the Match.^[103]^[104] For his 16 assists registered across the league season, De Bruyne won the inaugural Premier League Playmaker of the Season award.^[105] He was also selected in the PFA Team of the Year, and was also voted as Manchester City Player of the Season.^[106]^[107]^[108]

2018–19 season

[edit]

On 15 August 2018, De Bruyne suffered a knee injury during a training session, with several news websites reporting that he could potentially not play for up to three months.^[109] Two days later, Manchester City confirmed that he had suffered a lesion of the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee, with no surgery required, and that he was expected to not play for three months.^[110]^[111]^[112] Soon after De Bruyne returned to action in October 2018, he once again suffered a knee ligament injury in the fourth round of the EFL Cup against Fulham. The injury was expected to keep him out for 5–6 weeks^[113] but he resumed full training much earlier than expected after only 3 weeks out.^[114] He came on as substitute in the FA Cup final against Watford, scoring the third goal and assisting two more, as City won the first-ever domestic treble in English men's football.^[115]^[116] His performances meant he was named Man of the Match.^[116]

2019–20 season

[edit]

On 30 November 2019, De Bruyne scored a half-volley in a 2–2 draw against Newcastle in the league, that strike was later voted as Premier League Goal of the Month for November.^[117]^[118] On 15 December, he scored a brace in a 3–0 Premier League win over Arsenal at the Emirates.^[119]

De Bruyne scored his 50th City goal in all competitions on 26 February 2020 in their 2–1 victory, coming from behind, over Real Madrid in their Champions League Round of 16 clash.^[120]

In the final Premier League match of the season, City beat Norwich City 5–0 at home. De Bruyne scored two goals and registered his 20th league assist, which equalled Thierry Henry's record for the most assists in a season, and also won his second Playmaker of the Season award.^[121]^[122] In addition he became the first player in history to reach 20 assists in a single season in two of Europe's top five leagues.^[123] His long range curler in that game also won him Premier League Goal of the Month for the second time in the season.^[124]

At the end of the season he was awarded the Premier League Player of the Season after scoring 13 goals, providing 20 assists and creating 104 chances from open play, the most for a player in any of Europe's top five leagues since 2006.^[125]^[126]

He was also named in the PFA Team of the Year and won the PFA Player of the Year award, becoming the first ever Manchester City player to win it.^[127]

2020–21 season

[edit]

On 21 September 2020, De Bruyne scored and assisted in a 3–1 away win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in City's first game of the season.^[128] With the crucial visit of the Premier League champions, Liverpool, De Bruyne assisted Gabriel Jesus' equalizer before winning a penalty, which he subsequently fired wide. The game ended in a 1–1 draw.^[129] On 7 April, De Bruyne signed a four-year contract,^[130] after negotiating it with help of statistical data to make case for a 30% pay increase.^[131]

On 25 April 2021, De Bruyne's free-kick was headed into the goal by Aymeric Laporte, allowing City to win 1–0 against Tottenham Hotspur in the EFL Cup Final at Wembley Stadium.^[132] On 28 April, he scored a goal in a 2–1 away win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-finals.^[133] On 29 May, De Bruyne had a head injury after colliding with Antonio Rüdiger in the second half of the Champions League Final, to be substituted by Gabriel Jesus; however, his team lost 1–0 against his former club Chelsea.^[134] Medical scans after the game revealed De Bruyne to have suffered acute nose bone and left orbital fractures, placing doubt on his participation in the rescheduled UEFA Euro 2020 tournament.^[135]

At the end of the season, Kevin was awarded with the PFA Player's Player Of The Year award.^[136]

2021–22 season

[edit]

On 26 April 2022, De Bruyne scored the fastest Champions League semi-final goal after 93 seconds in a 4–3 win over Real Madrid in the first leg.^[137] On 11 May, he scored four goals inside 24 minutes in City's 5–1 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers, his first hat-trick with the club and the third-quickest in Premier League history.^[138]^[139] Sky Sports commentator Andy Hinchcliffe described the feat as "Twenty-three minutes of footballing genius" and Jeremy Wilson, writing in The Daily Telegraph, said "De Bruyne's 'wrong-footed' hat-trick was one of the best displays in Premier League history".^[140]

De Bruyne was again bestowed with the Premier League Player of the Season award, becoming the fourth player to win the award more than once.^[141]^[142] He also went on to win Manchester City's Player of the Year award for the fourth time. As a result, he tied Richard Dunne for the most player of the year awards at the club.^[143] In addition, he ended the season as the club's top scorer in the Premier League with 15 goals, which was also his personal best record.^[144]

2022–23 season

[edit]

On 26 April 2023, De Bruyne scored a brace and provided an assist in a 4–1 win over Arsenal, which reduced their rival's lead at the league table to two points, with his team had two games in hand.^[145] On 9 May, he scored the equalizer for his club in a 1–1 away draw against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals first leg,^[146] in which he managed to score in the same round for the third consecutive year.^[147]

On 10 June, he played only 36 minutes in his second Champions League final, as he suffered a hamstring injury and was replaced by Phil Foden.^[148] However, Manchester City eventually won 1–0 against Inter Milan, which completed their continental treble.^[149]

After the season, De Bruyne was nominated for UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award along with Lionel Messi and Manchester City teammate Erling Haaland.^[150]

2023–24 season

[edit]

De Bruyne started the 2023–24 season coming on as a substitute in the 2023 FA Community Shield against Arsenal on 6 August , missing a penalty as the Gunners won the shoot-out 4–1.^[151] On 11 August, he suffered a reoccurrence of a hamstring injury in the opening league game of the season against Burnley, it was later confirmed he would be out for four to five months.^[152] He made his return from injury on 7 January 2024, providing an assist in a 5–0 win over Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup third round.^[153] On 13 January, he came off the bench, scoring his first goal of the season and assisting another in a 3–2 comeback away victory over Newcastle United.^[154]

On 6 April 2024, De Bruyne scored his 100th goal for Manchester City in a 4–2 win at Crystal Palace.^[155] On April 17, he scored a goal in a 1–1 draw against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final second leg, leveling the aggregate score at 4–4; however, his club lost 4–3 in the penalty shootout.^[156] On 19 May, he achieved his 6th Premier League title with the club on the final matchday of the season.^[157]

2024–25 season

[edit]

On 4 April 2025, De Bruyne announced that he would leave Manchester City upon the expiration of his contract at the end of the 2024–25 season.^[158]

International career

[edit]

This section has an unclear citation style. The reason given is: Replace FIFA match reports with reliable secondary sources. The references used may be made clearer with a different or consistent style of citation and footnoting. (July 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

De Bruyne represented Belgium at under-18, under-19, and under-21 levels. He made his senior team debut on 11 August 2010 in an international friendly match against Finland in Turku; the game ended in a 1–0 loss for Belgium.^[159]

Before making his full debut for Belgium's senior side, De Bruyne was eligible to play for Burundi, his mother's birthplace.^[160]

De Bruyne became a regular member of Belgium's team during the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, where he scored four goals as the Red Devils qualified for their first major tournament in 12 years.^[161]

2014–2016: First World Cup and Euro appearances

[edit]

On 13 May 2014, De Bruyne was named in Belgium's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.^[162] In their first game of the tournament, against Algeria in Belo Horizonte, De Bruyne assisted Marouane Fellaini's equaliser^[163] and was named man of the match by FIFA.^[164] In the round of 16, De Bruyne scored Belgium's opening goal in the third minute of extra time as they defeated the United States 2–1.^[165] They were subsequently eliminated from the 2014 FIFA World Cup after losing 1–0 to Argentina in the quarter-finals.^[166]

On 10 October 2014, De Bruyne scored twice in a 6–0 rout of Andorra in UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying, equaling the team's record victory in a European qualifier set in 1986.^[167]^[168] On 3 September 2015, De Bruyne scored in a 3–1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.^[169] On 10 October 2015, De Bruyne scored in a 4–1 victory against Andorra, which secured Belgium's place at the UEFA Euro 2016 finals.^[170]^[171] Three days later, he scored in a 3–1 win over Israel, securing Belgium top-spot in the group.^[172] On 31 May 2016, De Bruyne was selected for Belgium's final 23-man squad for UEFA Euro 2016.^[173]^{[unreliable source?]} On 18 June 2016, De Bruyne was praised for his performance in Belgium's 3–0 win over the Republic of Ireland.^[174] On 26 June 2016, De Bruyne was voted BBC Man of the Match for his performance in a 4–0 win over Hungary in the round of 16, where he provided two assists.^[175]

2016–2018: 2018 World Cup

[edit]

De Bruyne was selected for Belgium's final 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.^[176] On 18 June, in the opening game against debutants Panama, De Bruyne provided an assist for Romelu Lukaku in an eventual 3–0 victory.^[177]^[178] On 6 July, he scored the second goal of the match in a 2–1 quarter-final victory over Brazil and was named the man of the match.^[179] In the semi-finals, Belgium were defeated 1–0 by eventual champions France.^[180] On 14 July, Belgium defeated England 2–0 in the third-place play-off.^[181]

2018–2022: Euro 2020 and 2022 World Cup

[edit]

On 17 June 2021, De Bruyne scored his first and the winning goal in Belgium's second match of UEFA Euro 2020, a 2–1 victory over Denmark,^[182] having earlier in the game assisted the team's first goal.^[183] During the round of 16 clash with Portugal, De Bruyne suffered an ankle injury from a tackle from behind, by Portugal's Joao Palhinha. On 2 July Belgium manager Roberto Martinez said that De Bruyne could recover in time for the quarter-final match, later that day, despite not training all week^[184]^[185] and he was later confirmed in the starting line-up.^[186]

De Bruyne started all three games in the 2022 FIFA World Cup as Belgium were eliminated in the group stage.^[187]^[188]^[189]

2022–present: Assuming the captaincy

[edit]

On 21 March 2023, De Bruyne was announced as Belgium's new captain, following the international retirement of Eden Hazard.^[190] A week later, he led Belgium to beat Germany in a friendly match for the first time since 1954, by scoring a goal and providing two assists in a 3–2 away win.^[191] On 28 May 2024, he was selected in the Belgian squad for the UEFA Euro 2024.^[192] A few days later, on 5 June, he earned his 100th international cap, in which he also scored a goal, in a 2–0 friendly victory over Montenegro prior to the tournament.^[193]

Player profile

[edit]

Style of play

[edit]

A versatile and highly talented player in the media, he plays mainly as an attacking or a central midfielder but can also operate in several other positions and has been used as a winger or second striker. He has even been deployed in a deeper creative midfield position and on occasion, a box-to-box role or as a false 9. He is often described by pundits as one of the best and most complete modern day advanced playmakers due to his technique, skill, athleticism, work-rate off the ball, vision, crossing accuracy, wide range of passing, and powerful long-range shooting ability with either foot.^[194]^[195]^[196]^[197]^[198]^[199]^[200]^[201]

Although he is not blessed with significant physical strength, pace, or ability in the air,^[202] he is a quick and elegant player on the ball with good dribbling skills, while his positional sense, tactical intelligence, movement, direct style of play and ability to run at defences when in possession also enable him to take advantage of spaces in the opposition's defence and subsequently create chances and goalscoring opportunities for himself or his team-mates, making him a dangerous offensive threat on counter-attacks.^[202]^[203]^[204]^[205] In addition to his creative abilities,^[202] he is also capable of scoring goals by making late runs off the ball from behind into the penalty area^[206] and is an accurate set-piece taker.^[202]^[207]

Reception

[edit]

De Bruyne is widely regarded as one of the best players in the world,^[208]^[209]^[210]^[211]^[212] and he has often been described as a "complete" footballer.^[213]^[214]^[215]

De Bruyne was ranked the fourth-best footballer in the world by The Guardian in 2017^[216] and the twelfth-best in 2019.^[217] In 2020, his Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola described him as the best midfielder in the world.^[218] As City chased The Treble in the 2022–23 season with De Bruyne playing a leading role, Jamie Redknapp said that De Bruyne was the best Premier League midfielder he had seen, ranking him above the likes of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.^[219]

Personal life

[edit]

Family and relationships

[edit]

De Bruyne's mother is Belgian.^[220] She was born in Burundi and has also lived in the Ivory Coast.^[221] She grew up in London, after her Flemish parents moved to England for work reasons. Only when she met Kevin's father, Herwig, did she return to Belgium.^[220]

De Bruyne's parents settled in Drongen, a sub-municipality of the city of Ghent, in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium.^[222]^[223] Aside from Dutch, his mother tongue, De Bruyne also speaks English, French and German.^[224]^[225]

As a child, De Bruyne and his parents regularly visited his grandparents in London. At the time of his move to Chelsea in 2012, De Bruyne stated: "We used to go every year at Christmas and during school holidays. It's my second home."^[226]

De Bruyne has been in a relationship with Michèle Lacroix since 2014.^[227] The couple married in June 2017^[228] and have three children together.^[229]

De Bruyne's autobiography, titled Keep It Simple, was published by Borgerhoff & Lamberigts in October 2014,^[230] following an incident between De Bruyne and his compatriot, footballer Thibaut Courtois, in which De Bruyne's then-girlfriend left him for Courtois. De Bruyne wrote in his autobiography, "Although I still cannot believe what Courtois has done, we continue to work together professionally."^[231]

Philanthropy

[edit]

De Bruyne was an ambassador for the 2014 Special Olympics, which took place in Antwerp, and was involved in a controversial advertisement campaign via his personal Instagram account. Employing the slogan (in Dutch): "Would you still be my fan if I looked like this?", De Bruyne was depicted resembling a person with Down's syndrome.^[232]

Since 2016 the Kevin De Bruyne Cup, an international youth football tournament, has been organized in Drongen, Belgium.^[233]

De Bruyne was chosen by UEFA as ambassador for 2018. He presented a check worth 100,000 euros to the International Committee of the Red Cross.^[234]

In 2019, De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku handed out shoes to needy children in regional hospitals for a special campaign 'Kicks for Kids' organized by Roc Nation Sports.^[235]

De Bruyne has also been involved in other charitable initiatives, including the "Common Goal" campaign, which encourages professional footballers to donate 1% of their wages to support various global social causes. In addition, he has donated money to support cancer research and has been involved in charity matches to raise money for various causes.^[236]

In 2023, De Bruyne and his wife were named as ‘godparents’ of the Ronald McDonald Children’s Fund, which ensures that parents with hospitalized children will be able to stay nearby.^[237]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]

As of match played 22 April 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			National cup^[a]		League cup^[b]		Europe		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Genk	2008–09^[238]	Belgian First Division	2	0	0	0	—		—		—		2	0
	2009–10^[238]	Belgian Pro League	35	3	2	0	—		2^[c]	0	1^[d]	0	40	3
	2010–11^[238]	Belgian Pro League	32	5	0	0	—		3^[c]	1	0	0	35	6
	2011–12^[238]	Belgian Pro League	28	8	1	0	—		6^[e]	0	1^[d]	0	36	8
	Total		97	16	3	0	—		11	1	2	0	113	17
Chelsea	2012–13^[238]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2013–14^[238]	Premier League	3	0	0	0	3	0	3^[e]	0	—		9	0
	Total		3	0	0	0	3	0	3	0	0	0	9	0
Werder Bremen (loan)	2012–13^[239]	Bundesliga	33	10	1	0	—		—		—		34	10
VfL Wolfsburg	2013–14^[240]	Bundesliga	16	3	2	0	—		—		—		18	3
	2014–15^[241]	Bundesliga	34	10	6	1	—		11^[c]	5	—		51	16
	2015–16^[242]	Bundesliga	2	0	1	1	—		—		1^[f]	0	4	1
	Total		52	13	9	2	—		11	5	1	0	73	20
Manchester City	2015–16^[242]	Premier League	25	7	1	1	5	5	10^[e]	3	—		41	16
	2016–17^[243]	Premier League	36	6	5	0	1	0	7^[e]	1	—		49	7
	2017–18^[244]	Premier League	37	8	3	1	4	2	8^[e]	1	—		52	12
	2018–19^[245]	Premier League	19	2	4	2	5	2	4^[e]	0	0	0	32	6
	2019–20^[246]	Premier League	35	13	2	1	3	0	7^[e]	2	1^[g]	0	48	16
	2020–21^[247]	Premier League	25	6	3	1	4	0	8^[e]	3	—		40	10
	2021–22^[248]	Premier League	30	15	3	1	2	1	10^[e]	2	0	0	44	19
	2022–23^[249]	Premier League	32	7	4	1	2	0	10^[e]	2	1^[g]	0	49	10
	2023–24^[250]	Premier League	18	4	5	0	0	0	2^[e]	2	1^[g]	0	26	6
	2024–25^[251]	Premier League	24	3	3	2	0	0	7^[e]	0	1^[g]	0	35	5
	Total		281	71	33	10	26	10	73	16	4	0	417	107
Career total			466	110	46	12	29	10	98	22	7	0	646	154

^ Includes Belgian Cup, DFB-Pokal, FA Cup
^ Includes Football League Cup/EFL Cup
^ ^a ^b ^c Appearances in UEFA Europa League
^ ^a ^b Appearance in Belgian Super Cup
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l Appearances in UEFA Champions League
^ Appearance in DFL-Supercup
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Appearance in FA Community Shield

International

[edit]

As of match played 23 March 2025^[16]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Belgium^[N2]	2010	1	0
	2011	1	0
	2012	6	1
	2013	11	3
	2014	11	4
	2015	8	4
	2016	12	1
	2017	8	0
	2018	10	2
	2019	6	4
	2020	4	1
	2021	10	3
	2022	9	2
	2023	2	1
	2024	8	4
	2025	2	0
Total		109	30

As of match played 23 March 2025

Belgium score listed first, score column indicates score after each De Bruyne goal^[16]^[252]

List of international goals scored by Kevin De Bruyne
No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	12 October 2012	Stadium Crvena Zvezda, Belgrade, Serbia	6	Serbia	2–0	3–0	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
2	22 March 2013	Philip II Arena, Skopje, Macedonia	10	Macedonia	1–0	2–0
3	7 June 2013	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	13	Serbia	1–0	2–1
4	15 October 2013	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	17	Wales	1–0	1–1
5	26 May 2014	Cristal Arena, Genk, Belgium	21	Luxembourg	5–1	5–1	Friendly
6	1 July 2014	Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil	25	United States	1–0	2–1	2014 FIFA World Cup
7	10 October 2014	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	28	Andorra	1–0	6–0	UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying
8	10 October 2014		28	Andorra	2–0	6–0
9	3 September 2015		34	Bosnia and Herzegovina	2–1	3–1
10	10 October 2015	Estadi Nacional, Andorra la Vella, Andorra	36	Andorra	2–0	4–1
11	13 October 2015	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	37	Israel	2–0	3–1
12	13 November 2015	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	38	Italy	2–1	3–1	Friendly
13	28 May 2016	Stade de Genève, Lancy, Switzerland	39	Switzerland	2–1	2–1
14	27 March 2018	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	59	Saudi Arabia	4–0	4–0
15	6 July 2018	Kazan Arena, Kazan, Russia	66	Brazil	2–0	2–1	2018 FIFA World Cup
16	11 June 2019	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	70	Scotland	3–0	3–0	UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying
17	9 September 2019	Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland	72	Scotland	4–0	4–0
18	19 November 2019	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	74	Cyprus	2–1	6–1
19	19 November 2019	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	74	Cyprus	3–1	6–1
20	18 November 2020	Den Dreef, Leuven, Belgium	78	Denmark	4–2	4–2	2020–21 UEFA Nations League A
21	24 March 2021	Den Dreef, Leuven, Belgium	79	Wales	1–1	3–1	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
22	17 June 2021	Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark	81	Denmark	2–1	2–1	UEFA Euro 2020
23	16 November 2021	Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales	88	Wales	1–0	1–1	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
24	8 June 2022	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	90	Poland	2–1	6–1	2022–23 UEFA Nations League A
25	22 September 2022	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	92	Wales	1–0	2–1	2022–23 UEFA Nations League A
26	28 March 2023	RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany	99	Germany	3–1	3–2	Friendly
27	5 June 2024	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	100	Montenegro	1–0	2–0	Friendly
28	22 June 2024	RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany	103	Romania	2–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 2024
29	6 September 2024	Nagyerdei Stadion, Debrecen, Hungary	106	Israel	1–0	3–1	2024–25 UEFA Nations League A
30	6 September 2024	Nagyerdei Stadion, Debrecen, Hungary	106	Israel	3–1	3–1	2024–25 UEFA Nations League A

Honours

[edit]

Genk

VfL Wolfsburg

DFB-Pokal: 2014–15^[238]
DFL-Supercup: 2015^[253]

Manchester City

Premier League: 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24^[4]
FA Cup: 2018–19,^[254] 2022–23;^[255] runner-up: 2023–24^[256]
Football League/EFL Cup: 2015–16,^[257] 2017–18,^[258] 2018–19,^[259] 2019–20,^[260] 2020–21^[261]
FA Community Shield: 2019,^[262] 2024^[263]
UEFA Champions League: 2022–23;^[264] runner-up: 2020–21^[265]

Belgium

FIFA World Cup third place: 2018^[266]

Individual

Bundesliga Young Player of the Year: 2012–13^[267]
Bundesliga Player of the Year: 2014–15^[268]
Bundesliga Team of the Year: 2014–15^[269]
UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season: 2014–15^[270]
Goal of the Month (Germany): October 2014^[271]
Footballer of the Year (Germany): 2015^[49]
France Football World XI: 2015^[272]
Belgian Sportsman of the Year: 2015^[273]
Best Belgian Player Abroad: 2015,^[274] 2016,^[275] 2022^[276] 2023^[277]
Manchester City Player of the Season: 2015–16,^[278] 2017–18,^[279] 2019–20,^[280] 2021–22^[281]
Manchester City Goal of the Season: 2019–20^[282]
FIFA FIFPRO World 11: 2020,^[283]^[284] 2021,^[285] 2022,^[286] 2023,^[287] 2024^[288]
IFFHS Men's World Team: 2017,^[289] 2019,^[290] 2020,^[291] 2021,^[292] 2022,^[293] 2023^[294]
UEFA Team of the Year: 2017,^[295] 2019,^[296] 2020^[297]
ESM Team of the Year: 2017–18,^[298] 2019–20,^[299] 2020–21,^[300] 2021–22^[301] 2022–23^[302]
PFA Premier League Team of the Year: 2017–18,^[303] 2019–20,^[304] 2020–21,^[305] 2021–22,^[306] 2022–23^[307]
Premier League Playmaker of the Season: 2017–18, 2019–20,^[4] 2022–23^[308]
UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2017–18,^[309] 2018–19,^[310] 2019–20,^[311] 2020–21^[312]
UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2021–22,^[313] 2022–23^[314]
FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2018^[315]
Premier League Goal of the Month: November 2019,^[316] July 2020^[317]
Premier League Player of the Season: 2019–20, 2021–22^[4]
PFA Players' Player of the Year: 2019–20,^[127] 2020–21^[318]
FSA Player of the Year: 2022^[319]
UEFA Champions League Midfielder of the Season: 2019–20^[320]
Sports Illustrated Premier League Team of the Decade: 2010–2019^[321]
IFFHS World's Best Playmaker: 2020,^[291] 2021,^[322] 2023^[323]
IFFHS UEFA Team of the Decade: 2011–2020^[324]
RBFA 125 Years Icons Team: 2020^[325]
IFFHS All Time Belgium XI^[326]
Premier League Player of the Year by Northwest Football Awards: 2020,^[327] 2022^[328]

See also

[edit]

List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps

Notes

[edit]

^
While several sources indicate that De Bruyne recorded 21 assists during the season, this number has been disputed and in 2020, the official Bundesliga website credited him with 19 assists.^[329]
^
De Bruyne caps against Romania on 14 November 2012, against Luxembourg (included his one goal) on 26 May 2014 and against Czech Republic on 5 June 2017 were counted by RBFA but not officially recognised by FIFA due to an excessive number of substitutions according to the Laws of the Game.^[330]^[331]^[332]^[333]

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Bibliography

[edit]

Keep It Simple (2014) (autobiography, co-authored with Raoul de Groote), Amsterdam: Borgerhoff & Lamberigts, ISBN 978-9089-31-482-6.

External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kevin De Bruyne.

Profile at the Manchester City F.C. website
Kevin De Bruyne at the Royal Belgian Football Association
Kevin De Bruyne – UEFA competition record (archive)
Kevin De Bruyne – FIFA competition record (archived)
Kevin De Bruyne at Premier League

v t e Manchester City F.C. – current squad
3 Dias 5 Stones 6 Aké 7 Marmoush 8 Kovačić 9 Haaland 10 Grealish 11 Doku 14 González 16 Rodri 17 De Bruyne 18 Ortega 19 Gündoğan 20 Silva 22 Reis 24 Gvardiol 25 Akanji 26 Savinho 27 Nunes 30 Echeverri 31 Ederson 33 Carson 45 Khusanov 47 Foden 52 Bobb 75 O'Reilly 82 Lewis 87 McAtee Manager: Guardiola

Belgium squads

v t e Belgium squad – 2014 FIFA World Cup
1 Courtois 2 Alderweireld 3 Vermaelen 4 Kompany (c) 5 Vertonghen 6 Witsel 7 De Bruyne 8 Fellaini 9 Lukaku 10 Hazard 11 Mirallas 12 Mignolet 13 Bossut 14 Mertens 15 Van Buyten 16 Defour 17 Origi 18 Lombaerts 19 Dembélé 20 Januzaj 21 Vanden Borre 22 Chadli 23 Ciman Coach: Wilmots

v t e Belgium squad – UEFA Euro 2016
1 Courtois 2 Alderweireld 3 Vermaelen 4 Nainggolan 5 Vertonghen 6 Witsel 7 De Bruyne 8 Fellaini 9 R. Lukaku 10 Hazard (c) 11 Carrasco 12 Mignolet 13 Gillet 14 Mertens 15 Denayer 16 Meunier 17 Origi 18 Kabasele 19 Dembélé 20 Benteke 21 J. Lukaku 22 Batshuayi 23 Ciman Coach: Wilmots

v t e Belgium squad – 2018 FIFA World Cup third place
1 Courtois 2 Alderweireld 3 Vermaelen 4 Kompany 5 Vertonghen 6 Witsel 7 De Bruyne 8 Fellaini 9 Lukaku 10 E. Hazard (c) 11 Carrasco 12 Mignolet 13 Casteels 14 Mertens 15 Meunier 16 T. Hazard 17 Tielemans 18 Januzaj 19 Dembélé 20 Boyata 21 Batshuayi 22 Chadli 23 Dendoncker Coach: Martínez

v t e Belgium squad – UEFA Euro 2020
1 Courtois 2 Alderweireld 3 Vermaelen 4 Boyata 5 Vertonghen 6 Witsel 7 De Bruyne 8 Tielemans 9 Lukaku 10 E. Hazard (c) 11 Carrasco 12 Mignolet / Kaminski ^a 13 Sels 14 Mertens 15 Meunier 16 T. Hazard 17 Vanaken 18 Denayer 19 Dendoncker 20 Benteke 21 Castagne 22 Chadli 23 Batshuayi 24 Trossard 25 Doku 26 Praet Coach: Martínez
^a Kaminski replaced Mignolet after Belgium's round of 16 match.

v t e Belgium squad – 2022 FIFA World Cup
1 Courtois 2 Alderweireld 3 Theate 4 Faes 5 Vertonghen 6 Witsel 7 De Bruyne 8 Tielemans 9 Lukaku 10 E. Hazard (c) 11 Carrasco 12 Mignolet 13 Casteels 14 Mertens 15 Meunier 16 T. Hazard 17 Trossard 18 Onana 19 Dendoncker 20 Vanaken 21 Castagne 22 De Ketelaere 23 Batshuayi 24 Openda 25 Doku 26 Debast Coach: Martínez

v t e Belgium squad – UEFA Euro 2024
1 Casteels 2 Debast 3 Theate 4 Faes 5 Vertonghen 6 Witsel 7 De Bruyne (c) 8 Tielemans 9 Trossard 10 Lukaku 11 Carrasco 12 Kaminski 13 Sels 14 Lukebakio 15 Meunier 16 Vranckx 17 De Ketelaere 18 Mangala 19 Bakayoko 20 Openda 21 Castagne 22 Doku 23 Vermeeren 24 Onana 25 De Cuyper Coach: Tedesco

Awards

2018 FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament

Statistical Team

Goalkeeper	Thibaut Courtois
Defenders	Raphaël Varane Andreas Granqvist Thiago Silva Yerry Mina
Midfielders	Luka Modrić Denis Cheryshev Philippe Coutinho
Forwards	Eden Hazard Harry Kane Antoine Griezmann

Fans' Team

Goalkeeper	Thibaut Courtois
Defenders	Raphaël Varane Diego Godín Thiago Silva Marcelo
Midfielders	Luka Modrić Kevin De Bruyne Philippe Coutinho
Forwards	Cristiano Ronaldo Harry Kane Kylian Mbappé

2020 FIFA FIFPRO World 11

Goalkeeper	Alisson
Defenders	Trent Alexander-Arnold Alphonso Davies Sergio Ramos Virgil van Dijk
Midfielders	Kevin De Bruyne Joshua Kimmich Thiago
Forwards	Robert Lewandowski Lionel Messi Cristiano Ronaldo

2021 FIFA FIFPRO World 11

Goalkeeper	Gianluigi Donnarumma
Defenders	David Alaba Leonardo Bonucci Rúben Dias
Midfielders	Kevin De Bruyne Jorginho N'Golo Kanté
Forwards	Erling Haaland Robert Lewandowski Lionel Messi Cristiano Ronaldo

2022 FIFA FIFPRO World 11

Goalkeeper	Thibaut Courtois
Defenders	João Cancelo Achraf Hakimi Virgil van Dijk
Midfielders	Casemiro Kevin De Bruyne Luka Modrić
Forwards	Karim Benzema Erling Haaland Kylian Mbappé Lionel Messi

2023 FIFA FIFPRO World 11

Goalkeeper	Thibaut Courtois
Defenders	Rúben Dias John Stones Kyle Walker
Midfielders	Jude Bellingham Kevin De Bruyne Bernardo Silva
Forwards	Erling Haaland Kylian Mbappé Lionel Messi Vinícius Júnior

2024 FIFA FIFPRO World 11

Goalkeeper	Ederson
Defenders	Dani Carvajal Antonio Rüdiger Virgil van Dijk
Midfielders	Jude Bellingham Kevin De Bruyne Toni Kroos Rodri
Forwards	Erling Haaland Kylian Mbappé Vinícius Júnior

v t e UEFA Men's Club Football Awards
Best Goalkeeper	1997–98: Schmeichel 1998–99: Kahn 1999–2000: Kahn 2000–01: Kahn 2001–02: Kahn 2002–03: Buffon 2003–04: Baía 2004–05: Čech 2005–06: Lehmann 2006–07: Čech 2007–08: Čech 2008–09: Van der Sar 2009–10: Júlio César 2010–16: Not awarded 2016–17: Buffon 2017–18: Navas 2018–19: Alisson 2019–20: Neuer 2020–21: Mendy
Best Defender	1997–98: Hierro 1998–99: Stam 1999–2000: Stam 2000–01: Ayala 2001–02: Roberto Carlos 2002–03: Roberto Carlos 2003–04: Carvalho 2004–05: Terry 2005–06: Puyol 2006–07: Maldini 2007–08: Terry 2008–09: Terry 2009–10: Maicon 2010–16: Not awarded 2016–17: Ramos 2017–18: Ramos 2018–19: Van Dijk 2019–20: Kimmich 2020–21: Dias
Best Midfielder	1997–98: Zidane 1998–99: Beckham 1999–2000: Mendieta 2000–01: Mendieta 2001–02: Ballack 2002–03: Nedvěd 2003–04: Deco 2004–05: Kaká 2005–06: Deco 2006–07: Seedorf 2007–08: Lampard 2008–09: Xavi 2009–10: Sneijder 2010–16: Not awarded 2016–17: Modrić 2017–18: Modrić 2018–19: De Jong 2019–20: De Bruyne 2020–21: Kanté
Best Forward	1997–98: Ronaldo 1998–99: Shevchenko 1999–2000: Raúl 2000–01: Raúl 2001–02: Raúl 2002–03: Van Nistelrooy 2003–04: Morientes 2004–05: Ronaldinho 2005–06: Eto'o 2006–07: Kaká 2007–08: C. Ronaldo 2008–09: Messi 2009–10: Milito 2010–16: Not awarded 2016–17: C. Ronaldo 2017–18: C. Ronaldo 2018–19: Messi 2019–20: Lewandowski 2020–21: Haaland

Manchester City F.C. Player of the Year

1967: Book
1968: Bell
1969: Pardoe
1970: Lee
1971: Doyle
1972: Summerbee
1973: Summerbee
1974: Doyle
1975: Oakes
1976: Corrigan
1977: Watson
1978: Corrigan
1979: Hartford
1980: Corrigan
1981: Power
1982: Caton
1983: Bond
1984: McCarthy
1985: Power
1986: Clements
1987: McNab
1988: Redmond
1989: McNab
1990: Hendry
1991: Quinn
1992: Coton
1993: Flitcroft
1994: Coton
1995: Rösler
1996: Kinkladze
1997: Kinkladze
1998: Brown
1999: Wiekens
2000: Goater
2001: Tiatto
2002: Benarbia
2003: Distin
2004: Wright-Phillips
2005: Dunne
2006: Dunne
2007: Dunne
2008: Dunne
2009: Ireland
2010: Tevez
2011: Kompany
2012: Agüero
2013: Zabaleta
2014: Touré
2015: Agüero
2016: De Bruyne
2017: D. Silva
2018: De Bruyne
2019: B. Silva
2020: De Bruyne
2021: Dias
2022: De Bruyne
2023: Haaland
2024: Foden

v t e IFFHS World's Best Playmaker
Men's winners 2006: Zidane 2007: Kaká 2008: Xavi 2009: Xavi 2010: Xavi 2011: Xavi 2012: Iniesta 2013: Iniesta 2014: Kroos 2015: Messi 2016: Messi 2017: Messi 2018: Modrić 2019: Messi 2020: De Bruyne 2021: De Bruyne 2022: Messi 2023: De Bruyne 2024: Bellingham
Women's winners 2012: Marta 2013: Goeßling 2014: Keßler 2015: Lloyd 2016: Marozsán 2017: Martens 2018: Marozsán 2019: Rapinoe 2020: Marozsán 2021: Putellas 2022: Putellas 2023: Bonmatí 2024: Bonmatí

Premier League Player of the Season

PFA Players' Player of the Year

1974: Hunter
1975: Todd
1976: Jennings
1977: Gray
1978: Shilton
1979: Brady
1980: McDermott
1981: Wark
1982: Keegan
1983: Dalglish
1984: Rush
1985: Reid
1986: Lineker
1987: Allen
1988: Barnes
1989: Hughes
1990: Platt
1991: Hughes
1992: Pallister
1993: McGrath
1994: Cantona
1995: Shearer
1996: Ferdinand
1997: Shearer
1998: Bergkamp
1999: Ginola
2000: Keane
2001: Sheringham
2002: Van Nistelrooy
2003: Henry
2004: Henry
2005: Terry
2006: Gerrard
2007: Ronaldo
2008: Ronaldo
2009: Giggs
2010: Rooney
2011: Bale
2012: Van Persie
2013: Bale
2014: Suárez
2015: Hazard
2016: Mahrez
2017: Kanté
2018: Salah
2019: Van Dijk
2020: De Bruyne
2021: De Bruyne
2022: Salah
2023: Haaland
2024: Foden

VDV Player of the Season

1998: Kahn
1999: Matthäus
2000: Scholl
2001: Kahn
2002: Not awarded
2003: Élber
2004–05: Not awarded
2006: Klose
2007: Diego
2008: Ribéry
2009: Grafite
2010: Robben
2011: Şahin
2012: Reus
2013: Lewandowski
2014: Reus
2015: De Bruyne
2016: Aubameyang
2017: Lewandowski
2018: Lewandowski
2019: Reus
2020: Lewandowski
2021: Lewandowski
2022: Nkunku
2023: Bellingham
2024: Wirtz

Footballer of the Year (Germany)

1960: Seeler
1961: Morlock
1962: Schnellinger
1963: Schäfer
1964: Seeler
1965: Tilkowski
1966: Beckenbauer
1967: Müller
1968: Beckenbauer
1969: Müller
1970: Seeler
1971: Vogts
1972: Netzer
1973: Netzer
1974: Beckenbauer
1975: Maier
1976: Beckenbauer
1977: Maier
1978: Maier
1979: Vogts
1980: Rummenigge
1981: Breitner
1982: K. Förster
1983: Völler
1984: Schumacher
1985: Briegel
1986: Schumacher
1987: Rahn
1988: Klinsmann
1989: Häßler
1990: Matthäus
1991: Kuntz
1992: Häßler
1993: Köpke
1994: Klinsmann
1995: Sammer
1996: Sammer
1997: Kohler
1998: Bierhoff
1999: Matthäus
2000: Kahn
2001: Kahn
2002: Ballack
2003: Ballack
2004: Aílton
2005: Ballack
2006: Klose
2007: Gómez
2008: Ribéry
2009: Grafite
2010: Robben
2011: Neuer
2012: Reus
2013: Schweinsteiger
2014: Neuer
2015: De Bruyne
2016: Boateng
2017: Lahm
2018: Kroos
2019: Reus
2020: Lewandowski
2021: Lewandowski
2022: Nkunku
2023: Gündoğan
2024: Kroos

v t e Belgian Sportsman of the Year
Men	1967 Ferdinand Bracke 1968 Serge Reding 1969–1974 Eddy Merckx 1975 Bruno Brokken 1976 Ivo Van Damme 1977 Michel Pollentier 1978 Raymond Ceulemans 1979–1980 Robert Van de Walle 1981 Freddy Maertens 1982 Jacky Ickx 1983 Eddy Annys 1984 Claude Criquielion 1985 Gaston Rahier & Vincent Rousseau 1986 William Van Dijck 1987 Georges Jobé 1988 Eric Geboers 1989 Thierry Boutsen 1990 Rudy Dhaenens 1991 Jean-Michel Saive 1992 Georges Jobé 1993 Vincent Rousseau 1994 Jean-Michel Saive 1995–1996 Fred Deburghgraeve 1997 Luc Van Lierde 1998 Fred Deburghgraeve 1999 Luc Van Lierde 2000 Joël Smets 2001–2004 Stefan Everts 2005 Tom Boonen 2006 Stefan Everts 2007 Tom Boonen 2008 Sven Nys 2009–2011 Philippe Gilbert 2012 Tom Boonen 2013 Frederik Van Lierde 2014 Thibaut Courtois 2015 Kevin De Bruyne 2016 Greg Van Avermaet 2017 David Goffin 2018 Eden Hazard 2019 Remco Evenepoel 2020–2021 Wout van Aert 2022–2024 Remco Evenepoel
Women	1975 Carine Verbauwen 1976–1977 Anne-Marie Pira 1978–1979 Carine Verbauwen 1980 Ingrid Berghmans 1981 Annie Lambrechts 1982–1986 Ingrid Berghmans 1987 Ingrid Lempereur 1988–1989 Ingrid Berghmans 1990–1991 Sabine Appelmans 1992 Annelies Bredael 1993 Gella Vandecaveye 1994–1995 Brigitte Becue 1996 Ulla Werbrouck 1997 Gella Vandecaveye 1998 Dominique Monami 1999–2002 Kim Clijsters 2003–2004 Justine Henin-Hardenne 2005 Kim Clijsters 2006–2007 Justine Henin-Hardenne 2008 Tia Hellebaut 2009–2011 Kim Clijsters 2012 Evi Van Acker 2013 Kirsten Flipkens 2014 Nafissatou Thiam 2015 Delfine Persoon 2016–2017 Nafissatou Thiam 2018–2019 Nina Derwael 2020 Emma Meesseman 2021 Nina Derwael 2022 Nafissatou Thiam 2023 Lotte Kopecky 2024 Nafissatou Thiam
Team	1997 Noliko Maaseik 1998 Motocross team 1999 Davis Cup team 2000 Anderlecht 2001 Fed Cup team 2002 La Villette 2003 Motocross team 2004 Women's 4×100 metres relay 2005 Men's under-21 football team 2006 Fed Cup team 2007–2008 Women's 4×100 metres relay 2009–2011 Belgian men's 4 × 400 metres relay team 2012 Men's field hockey team 2013–2014 Men's football team 2015 Davis Cup team 2016 Men's field hockey team 2017 Davis Cup team 2018–2019 Men's field hockey team 2020 Women's basketball team 2021 Men's field hockey team 2022 Belgian men's 4 × 400 metres relay team 2023 Women's basketball team 2024 Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe
Talent	1998 Kim Clijsters 1999 Bart Wellens 2000 Bart Aernouts 2001 Jurgen Van den Broeck 2002 Thomas Buffel 2003 Kirsten Flipkens 2004 Aagje Vanwalleghem 2005 Niels Albert 2006 Yoris Grandjean 2007 Dominique Cornu 2008 Elise Matthysen 2009 Romelu Lukaku 2010 Luca Brecel 2011 Thomas Van der Plaetsen 2012 Kimmer Coppejans 2013 Nafissatou Thiam 2014 Divock Origi 2015 Tiesj Benoot 2016 Louise Carton 2017 Lotte Kopecky 2018 Remco Evenepoel 2019 Yari Verschaeren 2020 Charles De Ketelaere 2021 Thibau Nys 2022 Cian Uijtdebroeks 2023 Alec Segaert 2024 Jarno Widar
Paralympic	2010 Sven Decaesstecker 2011 Wim Decleir 2012 Marieke Vervoort 2013 Joachim Gérard 2014 Michèle George 2015 Marieke Vervoort 2016 Laurens Devos 2017–2018 Peter Genyn 2019–2021 Joachim Gérard 2022 Michèle George 2023-2024 Maxime Carabin
Coach	2011–2012 Jacques Borlée 2013–2014 Marc Wilmots 2015 Hein Vanhaezebrouck 2016–2017 Roger Lespagnard 2018 Roberto Martínez 2019 Shane Mcleod 2020 Philip Mestdagh 2021 Shane Mcleod 2022 Roger Lespagnard 2023 Rachid Meziane 2024 Sven Vanthourenhout