Key facts
- Kevin De Bruyne, 35, is preparing for his fourth World Cup appearance.
- De Bruyne expressed gratitude for his long career with the Belgian national team.
- He has recovered from a thigh muscle injury sustained earlier in the season.
- De Bruyne feels fit and ready for the tournament.
- Younger players like Jérémy Doku are expected to contribute significantly.
- Defender Zeno Debast remains with the squad despite a recent leg injury.
Belgium's star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, 35, expressed that he is not taking his upcoming fourth World Cup appearance for granted. Ahead of Belgium's World Cup opener against Egypt, De Bruyne reflected on his long career, spanning approximately 16 years and 119 appearances for the national team, and expressed gratitude for still being able to represent his country.
De Bruyne, who recently completed a challenging 2025-26 season with Serie A club Napoli after a decade at Manchester City, has recovered from a severe thigh muscle lesion sustained in October. He returned to play in March and has since appeared in 10 Serie A matches and four friendlies for Belgium, scoring in a recent 5-0 victory over Tunisia.
Speaking ahead of Belgium's practice, De Bruyne stated he has done everything possible to be fit and feels ready for the tournament. He acknowledged that he has fewer opportunities remaining in his career and aims to enjoy every aspect of the World Cup. De Bruyne also highlighted the importance of his teammates, including winger Jérémy Doku, striker Romelu Lukaku, and goalkeeper Thibault Courtois, noting that the team's success does not rest solely on the veteran players.
Despite Belgium's past successes, including a third-place finish in the 2018 World Cup, the team did not advance from the group stage in 2022. De Bruyne believes a top tournament performance is possible if players like Doku are in form. He also expressed anticipation for facing former rival Mohamed Salah and Egypt in their opening match.
Separately, center back Zeno Debast, who had been absent from recent training sessions due to a leg injury sustained last month, has been cleared to remain with the Belgian squad for the World Cup. He is not expected to be available until later in the tournament.