This week, Belgium's footballing equivalent of the Oscar's – the 70th Golden Shoe Gala – took place in Antwerp.
While Royal Antwerp FC's dramatic league title in June 2023 dominated the domestic awards, the event also celebrates many of Belgian football's greatest exports.
Many have become household names in the world of football thanks to the Red Devil's recent success (but also flops).
In a top ten ranking, Kevin De Bruyne from Manchester City was awarded Best Belgian Player Abroad in Antwerp on Thursday.
The top-ranked players on the list were:
1. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) with 492 points,
2. Jéremy Doku (Rennes/Manchester City) – 412,
3. Loïs Openda (RC Lens/RB Leipzig) – 310,
4. Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid) – 240,
5. Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan/AS Rome) – 218.
Belgium's Jeremy Doku has risen to become one of the best young talents in the English Premier League with Manchester City. Credit: Belga / Virginie Lefour
Emerging further down the list we find:
6. Johan Bakayoko (PSV) – 135,
7. Leandro Trossard (Arsenal) – 85,
8. Amadou Onana (Everton) – 39,
9. Axel Witsel (Atletico Madrid) – 18.
Leandro Trossard plays for Arsenal. Credit: Belga
Rounding out the top 20:
10. Arthur Theate (Rennes) and Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid/Al Shabab), both earning 9 points,
12. Romeo Lavia (Southampton/Chelsea) – 7,
13. Brecht Dejaegere (Toulouse/Charlotte FC) and Dodi Lukebakio (Hertha BSC/Seville) – 6,
15. Koen Casteels (VfL Wolfsburg ) – 5,
16. Thomas Kaminski (Blackburn Rovers/Luton Town), Youri Tielemans (Leicester City/Aston Villa) and Dries Mertens (Galatasaray) – 4,
19. Anthony Descotte (FC Utrecht) – 3,
20. Matz Sels (Strasbourg) – 2.
Belgium's Yannick Carrasco. Credit: Belga / Bruno Fahy
Clinging to the bottom of the rankings:
21. A host of players all with a single point, include Nicolas Raskin (Glasgow Rangers), Orel Mangala (Nottingham Forest), Albert Sambi Lokonga (Arsenal/Luton Town), Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta), Christian Benteke (DC United), Timothy Castagne (Leicester City/Fulham), Wout Faes (Leicester City) and Largie Ramazani (Almeria),
Belgium's Orel Mangala. Credit: Belga / Bruno Fahy
Many of these players will make the Belgian national team for the Euros 2024 in Germany. Belgium has been drawn in the group stages against Slovakia, Romania and a winner of a play-off.
Sadly, it would appear Kevin de Bruyne and the large majority on this list were not present to pick up their Golden Shoes.
