Kevin De Bruyne (; born 28 June 1991) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Napoli and the Belgium national team. Widely regarded as one of the best players of his generation and one of the best players in Premier League history, De Bruyne has been described as a "complete" footballer. He is tied with Ferenc Puskás as the all-time leading European assist provider in international football (53).
After spending most of his youth career at Gent, De Bruyne began his professional senior career at Genk, where he was a regular player when they won the 2010âÂÂ11 Belgian Pro League. In 2012, he joined English club Chelsea, where he was used sparingly and then loaned to Werder Bremen. He signed with VfL Wolfsburg for ã18 million in 2014, establishing himself as one of the best players in the Bundesliga and was integral in the club's 2014âÂÂ15 DFB-Pokal win. In the summer of 2015, De Bruyne joined Manchester City for a then-club record ã54 million. Making 422 appearances for the club, he won the UEFA Champions League, six Premier League titles, five League Cups, and two FA Cups. In 2017âÂÂ18, he had a significant role in City becoming the only Premier League team to attain 100 points in a single league season. In 2019âÂÂ20, 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 2021âÂÂ22. He was again heavily involved in 2022âÂÂ23, 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 110 caps, scoring 36 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 Fan 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, and fourth in 2023.
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. 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.
De Bruyne made his first team debut for Genk in a 3âÂÂ0 defeat at Charleroi on 9 May 2009. Having established himself in the team the following season, on 7 February 2010, De Bruyne scored his first goal for the club, which secured all three points for Genk in a 1âÂÂ0 win against Standard Liège. He scored five goals and made 16 assists in 32 league matches during the 2010âÂÂ11 season as Genk were crowned Belgian champions for the third time. On 29 October 2011, De Bruyne scored his first hat-trick for Genk against Club Brugge, which ended in a 5âÂÂ4 win for Genk. On 28 January 2012, De Bruyne scored a brace against OH Leuven in a 5âÂÂ0 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 1âÂÂ2 away win against Mons. De Bruyne ended the season by wrapping up the scoring in a 3âÂÂ1 victory over Gent. He finished the league campaign with eight goals from 28 appearances.
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 ã7 million. He signed a five-and-a-half-year contract at Stamford Bridge, but would stay at Genk for the remainder of the 2011âÂÂ12 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." 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 4âÂÂ2 win. De Bruyne also played the first half against Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain at Yankee Stadium, New York City.
On 31 July 2012, Chelsea announced that De Bruyne was to join Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga on a season-long loan deal. He scored his first goal for Bremen in a 3âÂÂ2 defeat to Hannover 96 on 15 September, netting from 11 yards out after being played in by Eljero Elia. He continued his good form, scoring in Bremen's next game, a 2âÂÂ2 draw with VfB Stuttgart, on 23 September. De Bruyne got back on the score sheet on 18 November, scoring the winning goal â despite his team being down to 10 men â as Bremen came from a goal down to defeat Fortuna Düsseldorf 2âÂÂ1.
De Bruyne scored his first goal in over two months on 4 May 2013, since netting a consolation goal in Bayern Munich's 6âÂÂ1 hammering of Bremen, putting his side up 2âÂÂ0 at home to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim before a late brace from Sven Schipplock meant that the game finished 2âÂÂ2. He followed this up with a goal in Bremen's next match, securing a place in the Bundesliga for the next season with a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt on 11 May.
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.
De Bruyne injured a knee while scoring his first goal for Chelsea, in a pre-season friendly game against a Malaysia XI, but was fit to make his competitive debut on the opening day of the 2013âÂÂ14 Premier League season against Hull City, and made an assist for the first goal in a 2âÂÂ0 win.
On 18 January 2014, Wolfsburg signed De Bruyne for a fee of ã18 million (â¬22 million). On 25 January 2014, he made his debut for Wolfsburg in a 3âÂÂ1 home loss against Hannover 96. On 12 April 2014, De Bruyne assisted 2 goals in their 4âÂÂ1 home win against 1. FC Nürnberg. After a week he scored his first goal for Wolfsburg in 3âÂÂ1 away win against Hamburger SV. He also scored in the last two matches of the Bundesliga helping his team to win against VfB Stuttgart and Borussia Mönchengladbach.
De Bruyne scored his first goal of the 2014âÂÂ15 season on 2 October 2014, volleying in a clearance from outside the box to salvage a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Lille in the Europa League. 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 4âÂÂ2 victory. On 30 January 2015, he scored another brace in a 4âÂÂ1 home win against Bayern Munich, their first Bundesliga defeat since April 2014. On 1 March 2015, De Bruyne assisted three goals in a 5âÂÂ3 win over his former club Werder Bremen.
On 12 March 2015, De Bruyne scored two goals in a 3âÂÂ1 first leg Europa League round of 16 victory over Internazionale. On 15 March 2015, he scored one goal and assisted another two in 3âÂÂ0 victory over SC Freiburg.
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 2015âÂÂ16 UEFA Champions League. On 30 May 2015, he started and scored in the 2015 DFB-Pokal Final as Die Wölfe defeated Borussia Dortmund 3âÂÂ1 at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
De Bruyne ended his break-out season with 16 goals and 27 assists in all competitions, and was named the 2015 Germany Footballer of the Year.
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 1âÂÂ1 draw and then scoring in the subsequent penalty shootout. On 8 August 2015, he continued his good form by scoring his first goal of the season, and providing two assists in a 4âÂÂ1 win at Stuttgarter Kickers in the first round of the DFB-Pokal.
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."
On 10 August, it was reported that Manchester City had made a second bid for De Bruyne worth ã47 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." On 27 August, it was reported that City had made a further bid for De Bruyne worth ã58 million. Klaus Allofs said that City had made an "astonishing" wage offer to De Bruyne.
On 30 August 2015, Manchester City announced the arrival of De Bruyne on a six-year contract, for a reported club-record fee of ã55 million (â¬75 million), making him the second most expensive transfer in British football history after ÃÂngel Di MarÃÂa's move to Manchester United in 2014. 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. On 19 September, he scored his first goal for the club against West Ham United in first half stoppage time in an eventual 2âÂÂ1 loss. He went on to score in a 4âÂÂ1 League Cup win against Sunderland, on 22 September and a 4âÂÂ1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on 26 September. On 3 October, he scored in the team's 6âÂÂ1 win against Newcastle United.
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. 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. 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. On 1 December, he scored a brace in a 4âÂÂ1 win over Hull City to send Manchester City through to the semi-finals of the Football League Cup.
On 27 January 2016, De Bruyne scored a goal in a League Cup semi-final 3âÂÂ1 victory over Everton, but sustained an injury to his right knee that would keep him out of the team for two months. On 2 April, De Bruyne made his return from injury in a 4âÂÂ0 win against Bournemouth at Dean Court, scoring the team's second goal in the twelfth minute. Four days later, he scored the opening goal in a 2âÂÂ2 draw with Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first-leg at the Parc des Princes. 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 3âÂÂ2. 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." De Bruyne's next goal came on 8 May in a 2âÂÂ2 draw with Arsenal, although the result left City's Champions League qualification hopes out of their own hands.
On 10 September 2016, De Bruyne scored and assisted in the first Manchester derby of the season which City won 2âÂÂ1 and was awarded the Man of the Match. On 17 September, De Bruyne was awarded the Man of the Match, in a 4âÂÂ0 win over Bournemouth. De Bruyne scored the first, assisted the fourth, and provided key passes on both the second and third goals. After the international break, Manchester City drew their next game, against Everton, played on 15 October with the scoreline finishing at 1âÂÂ1. Agüero and De Bruyne both missed their penalties while Nolito came off the bench to equalise for City.
On 1 November 2016, De Bruyne scored from a free kick in the team's 3âÂÂ1 win over FC Barcelona. 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 2âÂÂ2 home draw with Tottenham Hotspur; he was subsequently named man of the match. On 19 March, De Bruyne displayed an excellent performance in a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium, where he set up a goal for Agüero.
De Bruyne set up both Agüero's and Gabriel Jesus' goals, on 9 September 2017, in a 5âÂÂ0 home victory over Liverpool. On 16 September, De Bruyne assisted Agüero for his first goal in an eventual 6âÂÂ0 win over Watford. On 26 September, De Bruyne scored his first goal of the 2017âÂÂ18 season in a 2âÂÂ0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk. On 30 September, he scored his first goal of the 2017âÂÂ18 Premier League season, as City beat his former club Chelsea with a 1âÂÂ0 scoreline at Stamford Bridge. On 14 October, De Bruyne provided two assists in a 7âÂÂ2 win over Stoke City. On 5 November, De Bruyne scored in a 3âÂÂ1 win over Arsenal. On 18 November, he scored in a 2âÂÂ0 away win over Leicester City. On 29 November, he scored City's opener and assisted Raheem Sterling's last-minute winner in a 2âÂÂ1 win over Southampton.
On 13 December 2017, De Bruyne scored in a 4âÂÂ0 away win over Swansea City, which extended their record run of consecutive top-flight wins to 15 games. On 16 December, he scored in a 4âÂÂ1 win over Tottenham Hotspur, with Pep Guardiola saying that De Bruyne is "helping the club become a better institution". On 27 December, De Bruyne provided an assist for Sterling's goal in a 1âÂÂ0 win over Newcastle United. On 9 January, De Bruyne scored in a 2âÂÂ1 win over Bristol City in the first leg of the semi-finals of the EFL Cup. 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 3âÂÂ1 win over Newcastle United.
On 22 January 2018, De Bruyne signed a new long-term contract with the club, keeping him at the club until 2023. On 23 January, he scored the winning goal in a 3âÂÂ2 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 5âÂÂ3. On 31 January, he scored and assisted in a 3âÂÂ0 win over West Bromwich Albion, and was voted BBC Man of the Match. On 10 February, he provided three assists, two for Agüero and one for Raheem Sterling, in a 5âÂÂ1 win over Leicester City, taking his assists tally to 14. On 25 February, he started in the 2018 EFL Cup Final against Arsenal, and played the whole 90 minutes, with Manchester City winning 3âÂÂ0 to obtain their first piece of silverware of the 2017âÂÂ18 season, and their first trophy overall under Pep Guardiola.
On 31 March 2018, he provided an assist for Gabriel Jesus in a 3âÂÂ1 win over Everton, ensuring that City would require only one more win to secure the Premier League title. On 22 April, he scored in a 5âÂÂ0 win over Swansea City. On 13 May, on the final day of the season, De Bruyne assisted Gabriel Jesus' winning goal in a 1âÂÂ0 win over Southampton, which took champions City's total points tally to 100. De Bruyne was also voted as BBC Man of the Match. For his 16 assists registered across the league season, De Bruyne won the inaugural Premier League Playmaker of the Season award. He was also selected in the PFA Team of the Year, and was also voted as Manchester City Player of the Season.
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. 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. 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 5âÂÂ6 weeks but he resumed full training much earlier than expected after only 3 weeks out. 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. His performances meant he was named Man of the Match.
On 30 November 2019, De Bruyne scored a half-volley in a 2âÂÂ2 draw against Newcastle in the league, that strike was later voted as Premier League Goal of the Month for November. On 15 December, he scored a brace in a 3âÂÂ0 Premier League win over Arsenal at the Emirates.
De Bruyne scored his 50th City goal in all competitions on 26 February 2020 in their 2âÂÂ1 victory, coming from behind, over Real Madrid in their Champions League Round of 16 clash.
In the final Premier League match of the season, City beat Norwich City 5âÂÂ0 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. 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. His long range curler in that game also won him Premier League Goal of the Month for the second time in the season.
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.
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.
On 21 September 2020, De Bruyne scored and assisted in a 3âÂÂ1 away win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in City's first game of the season. With the crucial visit of the Premier League champions, Liverpool, De Bruyne assisted Gabriel Jesus' equaliser before winning a penalty, which he subsequently fired wide. The game ended in a 1âÂÂ1 draw. On 7 April, De Bruyne signed a four-year contract, after negotiating it with help of statistical data to make case for a 30% pay increase.
On 25 April 2021, De Bruyne's free-kick was headed into the goal by Aymeric Laporte, allowing City to win 1âÂÂ0 against Tottenham Hotspur in the EFL Cup Final at Wembley Stadium. On 28 April, he scored a goal in a 2âÂÂ1 away win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-finals. 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 1âÂÂ0 against his former club Chelsea. 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.
At the end of the season, Kevin was awarded with the PFA Player's Player of the Year award.
On 26 April 2022, De Bruyne scored the fastest Champions League semi-final goal after 93 seconds in a 4âÂÂ3 win over Real Madrid in the first leg. On 11 May, he scored four goals inside 24 minutes in City's 5âÂÂ1 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers, his first hat-trick with the club and the third-quickest in Premier League history. 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".
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. 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. 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.
On 26 April 2023, De Bruyne scored a brace and provided an assist in a 4âÂÂ1 win over Arsenal, which reduced their rival's lead at the league table to two points, with his team had two games in hand. On 9 May, he scored the equaliser for his club in a 1âÂÂ1 away draw against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals first leg, in which he managed to score in the same round for the third consecutive year.
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. However, Manchester City eventually won 1âÂÂ0 against Inter Milan, which completed their continental treble.
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.
De Bruyne started the 2023âÂÂ24 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 4âÂÂ1. 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. He made his return from injury on 7 January 2024, providing an assist in a 5âÂÂ0 win over Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup third round. On 13 January, he came off the bench, scoring his first goal of the season and assisting another in a 3âÂÂ2 comeback away victory over Newcastle United.
On 6 April 2024, De Bruyne scored his 100th goal for Manchester City in a 4âÂÂ2 win at Crystal Palace. On 17 April, he scored a goal in a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final second leg, levelling the aggregate score at 4âÂÂ4; however, his club lost 4âÂÂ3 in the penalty shootout. On 19 May, he achieved his 6th Premier League title with the club on the final matchday of the season.
On 4 April 2025, De Bruyne announced that he would leave Manchester City upon the expiration of his contract at the end of the 2024âÂÂ25 season. On 17 May, De Bruyne had the opportunity to win his 20th and final trophy with Manchester City, but the club's campaign in the FA Cup ended in defeat in the final, which City lost 1âÂÂ0 to Crystal Palace. In his final home game three days later, "King Kev" was extensively honored, including with a temporary mural.
With 16 major trophies, the 33-year-old De Bruyne left Manchester City as one of the most decorated players in the club's history.
On 12 June 2025, Serie A club Napoli announced the signing of De Bruyne on a free transfer. He was offered the legendary number 10 that Diego Maradona had worn at Napoli but De Bruyne declined out of respect and instead opted for the number 11. On 23 August, he netted his first goal on his league debut in a 2âÂÂ0 away win over Sassuolo. On 13 September, he scored again during a 3âÂÂ1 away win over Fiorentina. A month later, on 25 October, he sustained a hamstring injury after scoring a penalty in a 3âÂÂ1 win over Inter Milan. He made his return to action as a substitute in a 2âÂÂ1 victory over Torino on 6 March 2026. His ongoing injuries during the seasons, raise serious doubts he will continue at Napoli next season.
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 1âÂÂ0 loss for Belgium. Before making his full debut for Belgium's senior side, De Bruyne was eligible to play for Burundi, his mother's birthplace.
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.
On 13 May 2014, De Bruyne was named in Belgium's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. In their first game of the tournament, against Algeria in Belo Horizonte, De Bruyne assisted Marouane Fellaini's equaliser and was named man of the match by FIFA. 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 2âÂÂ1. They were subsequently eliminated from the 2014 FIFA World Cup after losing 1âÂÂ0 to Argentina in the quarter-finals.
On 10 October 2014, De Bruyne scored twice in a 6âÂÂ0 rout of Andorra in UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying, equalling the team's record victory in a European qualifier set in 1986. On 3 September 2015, De Bruyne scored in a 3âÂÂ1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. On 10 October 2015, De Bruyne scored in a 4âÂÂ1 victory against Andorra, which secured Belgium's place at the UEFA Euro 2016 finals. Three days later, he scored in a 3âÂÂ1 win over Israel, securing Belgium top-spot in the group.
On 31 May 2016, De Bruyne was selected for Belgium's final 23-man squad for UEFA Euro 2016. On 18 June 2016, De Bruyne was praised for his performance in Belgium's 3âÂÂ0 win over the Republic of Ireland. On 26 June 2016, De Bruyne was voted BBC Man of the Match for his performance in a 4âÂÂ0 win over Hungary in the round of 16, where he provided two assists.
De Bruyne was selected for Belgium's final 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. On 18 June, in the opening game against debutants Panama, De Bruyne provided an assist for Romelu Lukaku in an eventual 3âÂÂ0 victory. On 6 July, he scored the second goal of the match in a 2âÂÂ1 quarter-final victory over Brazil and was named the man of the match. In the semi-finals, Belgium were defeated 1âÂÂ0 by eventual champions France. On 14 July, Belgium defeated England 2âÂÂ0 in the third-place play-off.
On 17 June 2021, De Bruyne scored his first and the winning goal in Belgium's second match of UEFA Euro 2020, a 2âÂÂ1 victory over Denmark, having earlier in the game assisted the team's first goal. 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 and he was later confirmed in the starting line-up.
De Bruyne started all three games in the 2022 FIFA World Cup as Belgium were eliminated in the group stage.
On 21 March 2023, De Bruyne was announced as Belgium's new captain, following the international retirement of Eden Hazard. 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 3âÂÂ2 away win. On 28 May 2024, he was selected in the Belgian squad for the UEFA Euro 2024. A few days later, on 5 June, he earned his 100th international cap, in which he also scored a goal, in a 2âÂÂ0 friendly victory over Montenegro prior to the tournament.
On 3 September 2025, manager Rudi Garcia - after previously rotating the captaincy around members of the squad - announced that Youri Tielemans would be Belgium's new captain, succeeding De Bruyne in the role.
Described as 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.
Although he is not blessed with significant physical strength, pace, or ability in the air, 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. In addition to his creative abilities, he is also capable of scoring goals by making late runs off the ball from behind into the penalty area and is an accurate set-piece taker.
At his peak, De Bruyne was widely regarded as one of the best players in the world, and he has often been described as a "complete" footballer. A number of sources have described him as one of the Premier League's best ever players.
De Bruyne was ranked the fourth-best footballer in the world by The Guardian in 2017 and the twelfth-best in 2019. In 2020, his Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola described him as the best midfielder in the world. As City chased The Treble in the 202223 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.
De Bruyne's mother is Belgian. She was born in Burundi and has also lived in the Ivory Coast. 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.
De Bruyne's parents settled in Drongen, a sub-municipality of the city of Ghent, in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium. Aside from Dutch, his mother tongue, De Bruyne also speaks English, French and German.
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."
De Bruyne has been in a relationship with Michèle Lacroix since 2014. The couple married in June 2017 and have three children together.
De Bruyne's autobiography, titled Keep It Simple, was published by Borgerhoff & Lamberigts in October 2014, 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."
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. Since 2016 the Kevin De Bruyne Cup, an international youth football tournament, has been organised in Drongen, Belgium. 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. In 2019, De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku handed out shoes to needy children in regional hospitals for a special campaign 'Kicks for Kids' organised by Roc Nation Sports. 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.
In 2023, De Bruyne and his wife were named as âÂÂgodparentsâ of the Ronald McDonald Children's Fund, which ensures that parents with hospitalised children will be able to stay nearby.
Genk
VfL Wolfsburg
Manchester City
Napoli
Belgium
Individual