This article lists various team and individual football records in relation to the Belgium national team (The Red Devils ).[upper-alpha 1] The page currently shows the records as of 9 September 2024.
Draws
It didn't make sense at all, this match.
—Dutch international Frank De Boer , after the high Netherlands-Belgium scoring draw (5–5) in 1999[6]
Highest scoring draw 5–5 vs Netherlands on 4 September 1999
Highest scoring draw at the World Cup Finals 4–4 ( a.e.t. ) vs England on 17 June 1954, 1954 World Cup
Highest scoring draw at the European Championship finals 1–1 vs England on 12 June 1980, Euro 1980
Highest scoring draw at the Olympic Games finals None
Defeats
The English probably found a dozen enough!
—Mockery Dutch newspaper comment after Belgium's unofficial 12–0 loss to Corinthian, their biggest ever defeat[7]
Largest defeat 2–11 vs England Amateurs on 17 April 1909
Including unofficial games : 0–12 vs Corinthian on 6 January 1906[8]
Largest defeat at home 1–9 vs England on 11 May 1927
Largest defeat at the World Cup Finals
Largest defeat at the European Championship finals 0–5 vs France on 16 June 1984, Euro 1984
Belgium-Sweden 1–8, Sweden cracks Belgium.
—Dutch newspaper heading after Belgium suffered its largest defeat at a major tournament, at the 1924 Summer Olympics[9]
Largest defeat at the Olympic Games finals 1–8 vs Sweden on 29 May 1924, 1924 Summer Olympics
Largest lead given away 2 goals, on several occasions
Goals
Scored
Most goals scored in a single game 10 vs San Marino on 28 February 2001
Most goals scored in an away game 7 vs Netherlands on 25 November 1951
Most goals scored during the first half 7 vs Iceland on 5 June 1957
Most goals scored during the second half 7 vs San Marino on 28 February 2001
Most goals scored during extra time
Most goals scored in a single game during the World Cup finals 5 vs Tunisia on 23 June 2018, 2018 World Cup Cup
Most goals scored in a single game during the European Championship finals 4 vs Hungary on 26 June 2016, Euro 2016
Match phase of Belgium's most productive Olympic game, against Luxembourg in 1928 (5–3)
Most goals scored in a single game during the Olympic Games finals 5 vs Luxembourg on 27 May 1928, 1928 Summer Olympics
Most different players scoring during a single game 7 (+ 1 own goal) (Romelu Lukaku (2), Nacer Chadli , Toby Alderweireld , Youri Tielemans , Christian Benteke , Yari Verschaeren and Timothy Castagne ) (+ own goal by Cristian Brolli ), vs San Marino on 10 October 2019
Conceded
Most goals conceded in a single game 11 vs England Amateurs on 17 April 1909
Including unofficial games : 12 vs Corinthian on 6 January 1906[8]
Most goals conceded during a home game 9 vs England on 11 May 1927
Most goals conceded during the first half 8 vs England Amateurs on 17 April 1909
Most goals conceded during the second half
Most goals conceded during extra time 3 vs Netherlands on 30 April 1905
Most goals conceded in a single game during the World Cup Finals 5 vs Germany on 27 May 1934, 1934 World Cup
Most goals conceded in a single game during the European Championship Finals 5 vs France on 16 June 1984, Euro 1984
Most goals conceded in a single game during the Olympic Games finals 8 vs Sweden on 29 May 1924, 1924 Summer Olympics
Scored and conceded
Highest total number of goals in a single game
Thirteen times a hole in the air...
—Dutch newspaper heading after the goal-rich 1951 Netherlands-Belgium encounter; both supporter sides together had 13 reasons to jump in the air[10]
13: 7–6 victory against Netherlands on 25 November 1951
Streaks
Longest unbeaten run 23 games, from 2016 to 2018[upper-alpha 2]
Longest run without victory 13, from 1933 to 1935
Most consecutive wins 12, from 2019 to 2020
Most consecutive draws 4, from 1948 to 1949, and in 1998
Most consecutive losses 7, from 1927 to 1928
Most consecutive games with at least one goal scored 49, from 2018 to 2022
Most consecutive games without a goal scored 5, in 1999
Most consecutive games without a goal conceded 7, in 2019
Most consecutive games with at least one goal conceded 38, from 1928 to 1933
World rankings
Source: FIFA.com [11]
Belgium go top, Chile and Austria soar
—FIFA News announcing Belgium's highest ever FIFA World Ranking in November 2015[12]
Highest FIFA ranking 1st (November 2015 – March 2016, September 2018 – February 2022)
Lowest FIFA ranking 71st (June 2007)
Best Mover +25 (April 2011)
Worst Mover −14 (September 2010)
Source: Eloratings.net [13]
Highest Elo rating 2158 (following 1–0 vs Portugal on 27 June 2021)
Lowest Elo rating 1497 (following 0–8 vs Netherlands on 29 March 1936)
Highest Elo ranking 1st (16 November 2019 – 11 October 2020, 27 June 2021, 2 September 2021 – 8 September 2021)
Lowest Elo ranking 74th (September 2009)
Friendly trophies
The Coupe Vanden Abeele
Shared (1): 1904
Winners (3): 1906, 1922, 1925
Shared (3): 1913, 1921, 1924
Winners (5): 1906, 1907, 1913, 1922, 1926
Shared (5): 1923, 1924, 1928 (2x), 1930
Shared (1): 1999
Awards
Winners (5): 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
Winners (1): 2002
Winners (1): 1980
Winners (2): 2013, 2014
Other achievements
In 2018, the Belgian players won bronze at the World Cup (pictured: Jan Vertonghen ) .
Third place (1): 2018
Fourth place (1): 1986
Runners-up (1): 1980
Third place (1): 1972
Fourth place (1): 2021
Individual
Source:[22]
Belgium's history in the FIFA World Rankings . The table shows the position that Belgium held in December of each year (and the current position as of 2023), as well as the highest and lowest positions annually.
More information Year, Position ...
Year
Position
Highest
Lowest
1992
17
17
17
1993
25
18
25
1994
24
19
34
1995
24
18
29
1996
42
25
43
1997
41
31
48
1998
35
28
41
1999
33
21
33
2000
27
23
33
2001
20
20
33
2002
17
17
23
2003
16
16
18
2004
45
16
45
2005
55
41
55
2006
53
47
57
2007
49
49
71
2008
54
42
55
2009
66
49
68
2010
57
48
68
2011
41
34
62
2012
21
20
54
2013
11
5
20
2014
4
4
12
2015
1
1
4
2016
5
1
5
2017
5
5
10
2018
1
1
5
2019
1
1
1
2020
1
1
1
2021
1
1
1
2022
4
1
4
2023
4
4
5
Close
General
[24]
Most appearances
Jan Vertonghen (2007–2024), 157 caps[upper-alpha 3]
Jan Vertonghen holds the record for most Belgium international appearances.
Jan Ceulemans , nicknamed Caje and Strong Jan , was formerly Belgium's record captain .
The following are the top ten most capped players; players with an equal number of caps are ranked in chronological order of reaching the milestone:
More information Rank, Player ...
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As of 9 September 2024 [ update] . The records are collected based on data from FIFA and RSSSF . Highlighted names denote a player still playing or available for selection.
Most consecutive appearances Louis Carré , 50 games, from 22 May 1949 (vs Wales ) until 11 March 1956 (vs Switzerland )
Most appearances as a substitute Dries Mertens , 40 caps[upper-alpha 5]
Most times substituted off Eden Hazard , 58 caps[upper-alpha 5]
Most games started on the bench Simon Mignolet , 88 games[upper-alpha 7]
Most selections (playing + non-playing) Jan Vertonghen , 168 selections[upper-alpha 8]
Most selections as an unused substitute Simon Mignolet , 94 selections[upper-alpha 7]
Most selections as an unused substitute without ever earning a cap Jacques Duquesne , 16 selections
Most selections needed to earn first cap Koen Casteels , 37 selections[upper-alpha 9]
Lowest caps to selections ratio (> 0) Jean Valet , 1/19
Most selections without ever being an unused substitute Wesley Sonck , 55 selections
Most appearances as a substitute without ever starting a game Tom Soetaers , 8 caps
Most appearances while never playing an entire game Adnan Januzaj , 15 caps[upper-alpha 5] & Tom Soetaers , 8 caps
Most appearances in the starting eleven Jan Vertonghen , 149 caps[upper-alpha 3]
Most caps earned while not playing the entire game Dries Mertens , 89 caps[upper-alpha 4]
Most caps earned while only playing entire games Bernard Voorhoof , 61 caps
Most caps earned while playing an entire game Jan Vertonghen , 131 caps[upper-alpha 4]
Most caps without ever being substituted off Georges Heylens , 67 caps
Most caps without ever appearing as a substitute Thibaut Courtois , 102 caps
Most caps needed to first play an entire game Romelu Lukaku , 24 caps[upper-alpha 5]
Most caps needed to first appear in the starting eleven Mbo Mpenza , 9 caps
Hector Goetinck was the player with the longest career span, and the first national manager with the Belgian nationality.
First player to reach a century of caps Jan Vertonghen , vs Portugal on 2 June 2018[upper-alpha 3]
Shortest time needed to reach a century of caps Eden Hazard , 10 years, 4 months and 5 days between his debut (vs Luxembourg on 19 November 2008) and his 100th cap[upper-alpha 5] (vs Cyprus on 24 March 2019)
Longest Belgian career Hector Goetinck , 6,402 days or 17 years, 6 months and 10 days between first (vs France on 22 April 1906) and last cap (vs England on 1 November 1923)
Shortest Belgian career Joris Van Hout , 2 minutes (on 16 October 2002 vs Estonia )
Most consecutive calendar years of appearances Jan Vertonghen (2007–2024), 18 years
Longest wait between appearances Hector Goetinck , 3,476 days or 9 years, 6 months and 27 days, between his 16th (vs Netherlands on 26 April 1914) and his 17th and final cap (vs England on 1 November 1923)
Appearances in three separate decades
Georges Hebdin ; 3 in the 1900s, 6 in the 1910s and 3 in 1920
Hector Goetinck ; 6 in the 1900s, 10 in the 1910s and 1 in 1923
Bernard Voorhoof ; 3 in 1928, 56 in the 1930s and 2 in 1940
Vic Mees ; 6 in 1949, 57 in the 1950s and 5 in 1960
Wilfried Van Moer ; 14 in the 1960s, 25 in the 1970s and 18 in the 1980s
Jan Ceulemans ; 10 in the 1970s, 75 in the 1980s and 11 in the 1990s
Michel Preud'homme ; 1 in 1979, 17 in the 1980s and 41 in the 1990s
Eric Gerets ; 19 in the 1970s, 57 in the 1980s and 10 in the 1990s
Erwin Vandenbergh ; 1 in 1979, 43 in the 1980s and 4 in the 1990s
Filip De Wilde ; 1 in 1989, 26 in the 1990s and 6 in 2000
Danny Boffin ; 2 in 1989, 39 in the 1990s and 14 in the 2000s
Luc Nilis ; 9 in the 1980s, 42 in the 1990s and 5 in 2000
Jan Vertonghen ; 20 in the 2000s, 98 in the 2010s and 39 in the 2020s
Axel Witsel ; 10 in the 2000s, 95 in the 2010s and 27 in the 2020s
Toby Alderweireld ; 4 in the 2000s, 94 in the 2010s and 29 in the 2020s
Thomas Vermaelen ; 27 in the 2000s, 51 in the 2010s and 7 in the 2020s
Eden Hazard ; 10 in the 2000s, 96 in the 2010s and 20 in the 2020s
Smallest number of caps needed to appear in three separate decades Georges Hebdin , 10 caps (total number of caps obtained: 12)
First player to debut as a substitute Louis Van Hege , vs France on 9 March 1919
Most times completed a game of 120 minutes Jan Ceulemans & Stéphane Demol , 4 games, both at the 1986 and 1990 World Cups
First appearance by a player who was playing abroad Raymond Braine (Sparta Prague , Czechoslovakia ), vs France on 14 April 1935
First appearance by a player who had never played for the senior team of a Belgian club Thomas Buffel , vs Andorra on 12 October 2002
First appearance by a player born outside Belgium Eric Thornton (born in England ), vs Netherlands on 30 April 1905
First appearance by a player born outside of Europe Luís Oliveira (born in Brazil ), vs Tunisia on 26 February 1992
Last appearance by a player from a Belgian club outside the top division Jan Verheyen (Union Saint-Gilloise ), Belgian Third Division , vs Netherlands on 25 April 1976
Last appearance by a player from outside the top division of any country Wout Faes (Leicester City ), English Championship , vs France on 1 July 2024
Players who have never played for the first team of a Belgian club Thomas Vermaelen , Eden Hazard , Divock Origi , Adnan Januzaj , Yannick Carrasco , Jason Denayer , Koen Casteels , Orel Mangala , Amadou Onana , Johan Bakayoko , Roméo Lavia and Koni De Winter
Most appearances without ever playing for the first team of a Belgian club Eden Hazard , 126 caps[upper-alpha 5]
Most appearances while active with a non-Belgian club Jan Vertonghen (Ajax , Tottenham Hotspur & Benfica ), 139 caps[upper-alpha 3]
Players appearing against the country of their birth
Highest number of players born outside Belgium simultaneously on the field 3 (Luís Oliveira , Gordan Vidović & Mbo Mpenza ) vs France on 27 May 1998
Players also appearing for another senior national team
Josip Weber , played three friendlies for Croatia in 1992, but switched to the Belgium national team in 1994
Mehdi Carcela played two friendlies for Belgium in 2009–2010, before opting for Morocco in 2011
Nacer Chadli , played one friendly for Morocco in 2010, before opting for Belgium in 2011
Ilombe Mboyo , played one friendly for DR Congo in 2011, before opting for Belgium in 2012
Denis Odoi played one friendly for Belgium in 2012, before opting for Ghana in 2022
Dodi Lukebakio , played one friendly for DR Congo in 2016, before opting for Belgium in 2020
Players capped while active outside of Europe
Youngest player Fernand Nisot , aged 16 years and 19 days, on 30 April 1911 vs Netherlands
The following are all the players who debuted for the national football team of Belgium before the age of 18, their team at that time and their usual position:
Fernand Nisot was Belgium's youngest player and the only who scored before the age of 17.
More information Rank, Player (club) ...
Rank
Player (club)
Age
Position
1 Fernand Nisot (Léopold Club )16 years, 19 days FW
2 Anthony Vanden Borre (Anderlecht )16 years, 187 days DF /MF
3 Romelu Lukaku (Anderlecht )16 years, 294 days FW
4 Paul Van Himst (Anderlecht )17 years, 17 days FW
5 Jean Capelle (Standard Liège )17 years, 154 days FW
6 Joseph Musch (Union Saint-Gilloise )17 years, 200 days DF
7 Zakaria Bakkali (PSV Eindhoven )17 years, 262 days MF
8 Vincent Kompany (Anderlecht )17 years, 314 days DF
9 Eden Hazard (Lille )17 years, 317 days MF/FW
10 Raymond Braine (Beerschot )17 years, 321 days FW
11 Bernard Voorhoof (Lierse )17 years, 341 days FW
Close
Oldest player Timmy Simons , aged 39 years, 11 months and 2 days, vs Estonia on 13 November 2016
The following are the top ten oldest players for the national football team of Belgium, their team at that time and their usual position:
Timmy Simons still made an international appearance at age 39.
More information Rank, Player (club) ...
Rank
Player (club)
Age
Position
1 Timmy Simons (Club Brugge )39 years, 338 days DF /MF
2 Jean De Bie (Racing Brussels )38 years, 30 days GK
3 Philippe Vande Walle (Club Brugge )37 years, 256 days GK
4 Hector Goetinck (Club Brugge )37 years, 241 days MF
5 Wilfried Van Moer (Beveren )37 years, 119 days MF
6 Jan Vertonghen (Anderlecht )37 years, 68 days DF
7 Franky Van der Elst (Club Brugge )37 years, 56 days MF
8 Danny Boffin (Sint-Truiden )36 years, 320 days MF
9 Eric Gerets (PSV Eindhoven )36 years, 313 days DF
10 Michel De Wolf (Marseille )36 years, 231 days DF
Close
Highlighted names denote a player still playing or available for selection.
Youngest goalkeeper Robert Hustin , aged 18 years, 6 months and 24 days, vs France on 9 May 1905
Youngest player to reach a century of caps Eden Hazard , aged 28 years, 2 months and 17 days, vs Cyprus on 24 March 2019[upper-alpha 5]
Oldest debutant Dany Verlinden , aged 34 years, 10 months and 7 days, vs Norway on 25 March 1998
Oldest outfield debutant Jozef Van Looy , aged 34 years, 2 months and 16 days, vs England on 18 May 1950
Oldest player to feature at the World Cup finals Wilfried Van Moer , aged 37 years, 3 months and 27 days, 1982 World Cup , vs Poland on 28 June 1982
Youngest player to feature at the World Cup finals Divock Origi , aged 19 years, 1 month and 30 days, 2014 World Cup , vs Algeria on 17 June 2014
Oldest player to feature at the European Championship finals Jan Vertonghen , aged 37 years, 2 months and 7 days, Euro 2024 , vs France on 1 July 2024
Youngest player to feature at the European Championship finals Enzo Scifo , aged 18 years, 3 months and 25 days, Euro 1984 , vs Yugoslavia on 13 June 1984
On major tournaments
Most inclusions in a World Cup/European Championship finals squad Kevin De Bruyne , Romelu Lukaku , Jan Vertonghen & Axel Witsel (2014 World Cup , Euro 2016 , 2018 World Cup , Euro 2020 , 2022 World Cup & Euro 2024 ), 6 tournaments
Most tournaments appeared in Kevin De Bruyne , Romelu Lukaku & Jan Vertonghen (2014 World Cup , Euro 2016 , 2018 World Cup , Euro 2020 , 2022 World Cup & Euro 2024 ), 6 tournaments
Most tournaments appeared in consecutively Kevin De Bruyne , Romelu Lukaku & Jan Vertonghen (2014 World Cup , Euro 2016 , 2018 World Cup , Euro 2020 , 2022 World Cup & Euro 2024 ), 6 tournaments
Most total appearances at the World Cup and European Championship finals Kevin De Bruyne & Romelu Lukaku , 26 caps
Most total non-playing selections for the World Cup and European Championship finals Simon Mignolet , 24 selections
Most total non-playing selections for the World Cup and European Championship finals without ever playing in a tournament Simon Mignolet , 24 selections
Most appearances without ever playing at the World Cup finals or the European Championship finals Jef Jurion , 64 caps
Fewest appearances while still playing at both the World Cup finals and European Championship finals Jacky Peeters & Branko Strupar , 17 caps
Most appearances without ever being in a World Cup or European Championship finals squad Jef Jurion , 64 caps
Most inclusions in a World Cup/European Championship finals squad without playing in the tournament Simon Mignolet (2014 World Cup , Euro 2016 , 2018 World Cup , Euro 2020 & 2022 World Cup ), 5 tournaments
Most inclusions in a World Cup/European Championship finals squad without ever playing in a tournament Simon Mignolet (2014 World Cup , Euro 2016 , 2018 World Cup , Euro 2020 & 2022 World Cup ), 5 tournaments
Most appearances at the Olympic Games finals Jean de Bie , 6 caps (3 in 1920 , 1 in 1924 & 2 in 1928 )
First player to make tournament appearances in three separate decades None
Most inclusions in the squad for the World Cup finals Franky Van der Elst , Enzo Scifo (both in 1986 , 1990 , 1994 & 1998 ) & Marc Wilmots (1990 , 1994 , 1998 & 2002 ), 4 World Cups
Most appearances in different World Cup finals Franky Van der Elst & Enzo Scifo (both in 1986 , 1990 , 1994 & 1998 ), 4 World Cups
Most appearances at the World Cup finals Enzo Scifo , 17 caps
Most appearances without ever playing at the World Cup finals Jef Jurion , 64 caps
Most non-playing selections for the World Cup finals Simon Mignolet , 15 selections
Most selections for the World Cup finals without ever playing in the tournament Simon Mignolet , 15 selections
Fewest appearances while still playing at the World Cup finals Gérard Delbeke , 1 cap
Players to debut at the World Cup finals
Henri De Deken , 1930 World Cup , vs Paraguay on 20 July 1930
Gérard Delbeke , 1930 World Cup , vs Paraguay on 20 July 1930
François De Vries , 1934 World Cup , vs Germany on 27 May 1934
Denis Houf , 1954 World Cup , vs England on 17 June 1954
Pieter van den Bosch , 1954 World Cup , vs England on 17 June 1954
Guy Vandersmissen , 1982 World Cup , vs Argentina on 13 June 1982
Jacky Munaron , 1982 World Cup , vs Soviet Union on 1 July 1982
Most inclusions in the squad for the European Championship finals Yannick Carrasco , Kevin De Bruyne , Romelu Lukaku , Thomas Meunier , Jan Vertonghen & Axel Witsel (2016 , 2020 & 2024 ), 3 final tournaments
Most appearances at the European Championship finals Romelu Lukaku , 14 caps
Most consecutive appearances at the European Championship finals Yannick Carrasco , Kevin De Bruyne , Romelu Lukaku & Jan Vertonghen (2016 , 2020 & 2024 ), 3 final tournaments
Fewest appearances while still playing at the European Championship finals Walter De Greef & Paul Lambrichts , 5 caps
Most appearances without ever playing at the European Championship finals Timmy Simons , 94 caps
Appearances at most European Championship finals Yannick Carrasco , Kevin De Bruyne , Romelu Lukaku & Jan Vertonghen (2016 , 2020 & 2024 ), 3 final tournaments
Most non-playing selections for the European Championship finals Simon Mignolet , 9 selections
Most non-playing selections for the European Championship finals without ever playing in the tournament Simon Mignolet , 9 selections
Players to debut at the European Championship finals Georges Grün , Euro 1984 , vs Yugoslavia on 13 June 1984
General
First goal Georges Quéritet vs France on 1 May 1904
Most goals Romelu Lukaku (2010–present), 85[upper-alpha 10]
As of 9 September 2024 [ update] , the top ten players with the most goals for Belgium are:
(Goalscorers with an equal number of goals are ranked with the highest to lowest goals per game ratio.)
Romelu Lukaku is the all-time top scorer for Belgium with 85 goals.
More information Rank, Player ...
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The records are collected based on data from FIFA and RSSSF . Highlighted names denote a player still playing or available for selection.
Players with the highest goals per game ratio (greater than one)
As of 19 November 2019 [ update] , the players with the highest goals per game ratio (greater than one) for Belgium are:
(Players with an equal goals per game ratio are ranked by the most goals scored.)
More information Rank, Player ...
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The records are collected based on data from FIFA and RSSSF . Highlighted names denote a player still playing or available for selection.
Most goals in competitive matches Romelu Lukaku , 60
Jef Mermans scored in seven matches in a row.
Most consecutive matches scored in Jef Mermans , 7
Most consecutive matches scored in starting with debut Alphonse Six & Maurice Willems , 3 each
Most goals on debut Josip Weber , 5 goals vs Zambia on 4 June 1994
Most matches played while scoring in each one Maurice Willems , 3
Most goals in a single calendar year Romelu Lukaku , 15 in 2023
Most goals scored by a defender Daniel Van Buyten & Jan Vertonghen , 10 each
Christian Piot, the only goalkeeper ever to score a goal for Belgium
Most goals scored by a goalkeeper Christian Piot , 1
First goal by a substitute François Van den Eynde , vs Irish Free State on 25 February 1934
Most goals scored as a substitute Michy Batshuayi , 9
Most goals scored by a substitute in a single game Bob Peeters , 3 goals vs San Marino on 28 February 2001
Most appearances without ever scoring Thibaut Courtois , 102[upper-alpha 5]
Most appearances for an outfield player without ever scoring Georges Heylens , 67
Most appearances needed to score his first goal Franky Van der Elst , 79
Most goals scored in extra time
Latest goal scored by a player Alphonse Six vs Netherlands on 13 May 1910, in the 114th minute
Latest goal conceded by a goalkeeper in the 119th minute
Goals in three separate decades
First Belgian goalscorer at the King Baudouin Stadium August Hellemans (when it was still the Centenaire Stadium), Michaël Goossens (after it was renamed King Baudouin Stadium)
Scorers of own goals Robert Hustin , Edgard Poelmans , Oscar Verbeeck , Émile Stijnen , Bob Paverick , Charles Saeys , Walter Meeuws , Régis Genaux , Philippe Albert , Timmy Simons , Olivier Deschacht , Bart Goor , Vincent Kompany , Nacer Chadli , Jan Vertonghen & Timothy Castagne
Hat-tricks
Most goals in a match
Including unofficial games : Herbert Potts , 7 goals vs Netherlands B on 28 April 1901[25]
Four goals in a match
Three goals in a match
Belgium's 'hat-trick hero' Robert De Veen scored three hat-tricks.
Most hat-tricks Romelu Lukaku , 4 times
Fastest hat-trick Romelu Lukaku , 13 minutes, vs Azerbaijan on 19 November 2023
Fastest hat-trick as a substitute Bob Peeters , 30 minutes, vs San Marino on 28 February 2001
Youngest player to score a hat-trick Jean Capelle , 18 years, 7 months and 10 days, vs Denmark on 5 June 1932
Oldest player to score a hat-trick Romelu Lukaku , 30 years, 6 months and 6 days, vs Azerbaijan on 19 November 2023
Highest number of different players to score (at least) a hat-trick in the same game
Hat-tricks at major tournaments Robert Coppée , vs Spain on 29 August 1920 (at the 1920 Olympics )
Fastest
In 2016, Christian Benteke scored the quickest ever goal in a competitive international so far, 8.1 seconds after kick-off.
Fastest goal from kickoff Christian Benteke , 8.1 seconds vs Gibraltar on 10 October 2016[26]
Fastest goal in debut match (since World War II) Tom Caluwé , 2 minutes and 52 seconds vs Saudi Arabia on 11 May 2006[27]
Fastest goal by a substitute Marc Wilmots , 1 minute and 4 seconds vs France on 25 March 1992[28]
Fastest goal at the World Cup finals Thomas Meunier , 3 minutes and 36 seconds vs England on 14 July 2018
Fastest goal at the European Championship finals Youri Tielemans , 1 minute and 13 seconds vs Romania on 22 June 2024
Oldest goalscorer Wilfried Van Moer , 37 years, 1 month and 27 days, vs Bulgaria on 28 April 1982
Youngest goalscorer Fernand Nisot , 16 years, 10 months and 27 days, vs Netherlands on 10 March 1912
Oldest goalscorer at the World Cup finals Lei Clijsters , 33 years, 7 months and 11 days, 1990 FIFA World Cup , vs Uruguay on 17 June 1990
Youngest goalscorer at the World Cup finals Divock Origi , 19 years, 2 months and 4 days, 2014 FIFA World Cup , vs Russia on 22 June 2014
Oldest goalscorer at the European Championship finals Julien Cools , 33 years, 4 months and 2 days, Euro 1980 , vs Spain on 15 June 1980
Youngest goalscorer at the European Championship finals Émile Mpenza , 21 years, 11 months and 6 days, Euro 2000 , vs Sweden on 10 June 2000
On major tournaments
Most total goals at the World Cup and European Championship finals Romelu Lukaku , 11 (1 at the 2014 World Cup , 2 at Euro 2016 , 4 at the 2018 World Cup and 4 at Euro 2020 )
Most consecutive tournaments with a goal Romelu Lukaku , 4 (1 goal at the 2014 World Cup , 2 goals at Euro 2016 , 4 goals at the 2018 World Cup & 4 goals at Euro 2020 )
Most goals at the Olympic Games finals Robert Coppée (in 1920 ) & Raymond Braine (in 1928 ), 4 each
Most goals in an Olympic Games finals match Robert Coppée , 3 goals vs Spain on 29 August 1920, 1920 Summer Olympics
Most goals in a single World Cup tournament Romelu Lukaku , 4 (2018 )
Marc Wilmots (pictured) and Romelu Lukaku became Belgium's all-time top scorers at the World Cup with five goals each.
Most total goals at World Cup tournaments Marc Wilmots (1998 & 2002) & Romelu Lukaku (2014 & 2018), 5 each
Most goals in a single World Cup qualifying campaign Romelu Lukaku , 11 (2018 World Cup qualifying )
Most goals in a single World Cup finals match
Bernard Voorhoof , 2 goals vs Germany on 27 May 1934, 1934 World Cup
Pol Anoul , 2 goals vs England on 17 June 1954, 1954 World Cup
Wilfried Van Moer , 2 goals vs El Salvador on 3 June 1970, 1970 World Cup
Marc Wilmots , 2 goals vs Mexico on 20 June 1998, 1998 World Cup
Romelu Lukaku , 2 goals vs Panama on 18 June 2018 and 2 goals vs Tunisia on 23 June 2018, 2018 World Cup
Eden Hazard , 2 goals vs Tunisia on 23 June 2018, 2018 World Cup
Most goals in a single World Cup qualifying match Marc Van Der Linden , 4 goals vs Luxembourg on 1 June 1989, 1990 World Cup qualifying
First goal in a World Cup finals match Bernard Voorhoof vs Germany on 27 May 1934, 1934 World Cup
First goal in a World Cup qualifying campaign Jean Capelle , vs Irish Free State on 25 February 1934, 1934 World Cup qualifying
First captain Camille Van Hoorden
Most appearances as captain Eden Hazard , 59
Most captaincies
The following are the top ten players assigned as captain the most times (at the start of an international game):
Jef Jurion, the third-most serving Belgium captain, became Belgian champion nine times with Anderlecht.
Correct as of 1 December 2022, after the match against Croatia .
More information Rank, Player ...
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Highlighted names denote a player still playing or available for selection.
Red cards
2 expulsions Eric Deflandre , Vincent Kompany & Axel Witsel
List of all Belgian players sent off once
Pierre Braine , Mathieu Bollen , Georges Heylens , Pierre Hanon , Walter Meeuws , Alexandre Czerniatynski , Philippe Albert , Pascal Renier , Gert Verheyen , Tjörven De Brul , Marc Wilmots , Filip De Wilde , Olivier De Cock , Bart Goor , Mousa Dembélé , Anthony Vanden Borre , Marouane Fellaini , Nicolas Lombaerts , Steven Defour & Amadou Onana
First player to get an expulsion Pierre Braine , vs Czechoslovakia on 26 May 1927
First substitute to get an expulsion Mathieu Bollen , vs Netherlands on 19 April 1959
First player to be expelled by receiving two yellow cards Walter Meeuws , vs Netherlands on 14 October 1981
First substitute to be expelled by receiving two yellow cards None
Youngest player to get an expulsion Mousa Dembélé , aged 19 years, 2 months and 25 days, vs Azerbaijan on 11 October 2006
Oldest player to get an expulsion Filip De Wilde , aged 35 years, 11 months and 14 days, vs Turkey on 8 June 2000
Fastest expulsion by a starting player 27 minutes, Eric Deflandre vs Scotland on 24 March 2001
Fastest expulsion by a substitute 3 minutes, Alexandre Czerniatynski , vs Hungary on 6 June 1984
Fastest expulsion by receiving two yellow cards 29 minutes, Eric Deflandre , vs Spain on 9 October 2004
Shortest time between two yellow cards 0 minutes, Eric Deflandre , vs Spain on 9 October 2004
Devils Goor and Deflandre red from anger
—Word-play in a 2004 newspaper heading. Only in one match of Belgium so far, two players received a red card. Both were very displeased with their five- and three-day suspensions afterwards.[29]
Highest number of expulsions of Belgian players in a single game 2 expulsions: Eric Deflandre and Bart Goor , vs Spain on 9 October 2004
Highest total number of expulsions in a single game 3 expulsions; Georges Heylens ( ), Dobrivoje Trivić & Dragan Džajić ( ), vs Yugoslavia on 16 October 1968
Player born on the earliest date Joseph Romdenne , born in 1876 , received his only cap on 14 May 1905 vs Netherlands
First appearance by a player born in the 20th century Cornelius Elst (born on 25 January 1901) on 21 May 1922 vs Italy
Last appearance by a player born in the 19th century Nicolas Hoydonckx (born on 29 December 1900) on 26 November 1933 vs Denmark
First appearance by a player born in the 21st century Yari Verschaeren (born on 12 July 2001) on 9 September 2019 vs Scotland
First substitute Georges Mathot replaced Charles Cambier after 46 minutes vs Netherlands on 26 April 1908
Earliest time in the game to be substituted off Vincent Kompany , vs San Marino on 7 September 2005, in the 12th minute
First substitute who was substituted off again in the same game Branko Strupar vs Algeria on 14 May 2002
Shortest time between being subbed on and being subbed off Christophe Lepoint vs Finland on 11 August 2010, 15 minutes
Most substitutions in one game
Most simultaneous substitutions
6, at half-time vs Yugoslavia on 19 May 1986
6, at half-time vs Algeria on 14 May 2002
First game that went into extra time On 30 April 1905, vs Netherlands
Oranje team beaten by playful 'Anderlecht'
—Dutch 1964 newspaper heading. It pointed to the fact that at a certain moment in Belgium's 1–0 win over the Netherlands all Belgians on the pitch came out for RSC Anderlecht[30]
Club providing the most Belgian internationals in a single match Anderlecht , 11; in the match vs Netherlands on 30 September 1964, all outfield players in the second half were from Anderlecht.
Belgian players who later became manager/head coach Hector Goetinck , François Demol , André Vandeweyer , Guy Thys , Walter Meeuws , Paul Van Himst , Wilfried Van Moer , Georges Leekens , René Vandereycken , Franky Vercauteren (caretaker) and Marc Wilmots
Clean sheets
Thibaut Courtois holds the record for clean sheets.
Most clean sheets Thibaut Courtois , 51
Most clean sheets in competitive matches Thibaut Courtois , 42
Most clean sheets in total at the World Cup and European Championship finals Thibaut Courtois , 13 (2 at the 2014 World Cup , 3 at Euro 2016 , 3 at the 2018 World Cup , 3 at Euro 2020 and 2 at the 2022 World Cup )
Most clean sheets in a single World Cup tournament Thibaut Courtois , 3 (2018 )
Most clean sheets in total at World Cup tournaments Thibaut Courtois , 7 (2 in 2014 , 3 in 2018 and 2 in 2022 )
Most clean sheets in a single European Championship tournament Thibaut Courtois , 3 (2016 and 2020 )
Most clean sheets in total at European Championship tournaments Thibaut Courtois , 6 (3 in 2016 and 3 in 2020 )
Most clean sheets in a single Olympic Games finals tournament Jean De Bie , 2 (1920 )
Most clean sheets in total at the Olympic Games finals Jean De Bie , 2 (both in 1920 )
These records and statistics include caps and goals against Romania on 14 November 2012, against Luxembourg on 26 May 2014 and against Czech Republic on 5 June 2017, which were counted by RBFA , but are not officially recognised by FIFA – the former two due to an excessive number of substitutions according to the Laws of the Game,[1] [2] [3] the latter because the Belgian and Czech football federations were too late in requesting an official match.[4] When applicable, footnotes clarify the discrepancy.
This does not include the FIFA unrecognized friendly against the Czech Republic on 5 June 2017
This includes three caps in FIFA unrecognized friendlies
This includes two caps in FIFA unrecognized friendlies
This includes one cap in a FIFA unrecognized friendly
This includes three goals in FIFA unrecognized friendlies
This includes two selections for FIFA unrecognized friendlies
This includes three selections for FIFA unrecognized friendlies
This includes one selection in a FIFA unrecognized friendly
This includes three goals in FIFA unrecognized friendlies
This includes 1 hat-trick in a by the FIFA unrecognized friendly
Goals scored in penalty shoot-outs do not count on a player's overall scoring tally.
Guldemont, Henry; Deps, Bob (1995). 100 ans de football en Belgique : 1895–1995, Union royale belge des sociétés de football association (in French). Brussels: Vif. p. 66. ISBN 90-5466-151-8 .
Fraiponts, Jean; Willocx, Dirk (2003). Kroniek van het Belgische voetbal / Pioniers en Rode Duivels - 1863-1906 (in Dutch). Vol. 1. Antwerp: Assoc. BE bvba. ISBN 978-90-77314-01-2 . . Extract consulted online on 30 August 2010 on Beerschot Athletic Club