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Hans Vanaken
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Hans Vanaken

Belgian midfielder who scored in Belgium's 4-1 win over the United States.

Last refreshed: 7 July 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

Why did it take until his thirties for Vanaken to become a Belgium regular?

Timeline for Hans Vanaken

#365 Jul

Belgium end USA's home World Cup

2026 FIFA World Cup
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Common Questions
What club does Hans Vanaken play for?
He plays for and captains Club Brugge KV in the Belgian Pro League, where he has spent his entire senior career.Source: Club Brugge
How many Belgian Golden Shoes has Hans Vanaken won?
Three, a record-equalling total level with Jan Ceulemans and Wilfried van Moer, most recently in February 2025.Source: Belgian FA
When did Hans Vanaken make his Belgium debut?
On 7 September 2018, in a 4-0 win over Scotland at Hampden Park, replacing Eden Hazard.Source: Wikipedia

Background

Vanaken scored in Belgium's 4-1 last-16 win over the United States, a rare World Cup outing for a player who only became a senior international fixture in his thirties.

The Club Brugge captain has spent his entire senior career at the Belgian club, winning multiple Pro League titles and a record-equalling three Belgian Golden Shoes, level with Jan Ceulemans and Wilfried van Moer for the most in the award's history. He made his Belgium debut in September 2018, in a win over Scotland.

At 33, Vanaken's World Cup run is late recognition for a player long regarded as the best in Belgian domestic football but overlooked internationally until recently.

More questions
Why is Hans Vanaken only a recent Belgium regular?
Despite years as Club Brugge's best player, he was overlooked by national coaches until his thirties. His goal against the USA on 6 July 2026 capped a rare deep World Cup run.Source: event