Belgium Look to Move On From Golden Generation Comparisons
Belgium head into Monday’s World Cup 2026 group match against the United States carrying an awkward burden: the enduring shadow of a Golden Generation that promised so much yet never delivered a major trophy.
As The Guardian notes, that talented group – built around the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois and Romelu Lukaku – peaked at Russia 2018 when they beat Brazil in the quarter-finals before losing 1-0 to France in the semi-final. It remains the closest that generation came to silverware. Several of those players endured through to Qatar 2022, but this Belgium squad feels genuinely different – a new wave rather than the same faces a little greyer and a little more fatigued.
Players such as Leandro Trossard, Youri Tielemans, Jérémy Doku and Charles De Ketelaere may not carry the individual star quality of their predecessors, but they are capable footballers. It is also worth remembering that Belgium is a country of fewer than 12 million people – consistently producing world-class talent is no small feat.
Moreira the Man of the Moment
The player generating the most excitement right now is 21-year-old Diego Moreira. Introduced from the bench in the 63rd minute against Senegal – replacing the 33-year-old Hans Vanaken – Moreira immediately injected pace and creativity on the left flank that Doku had struggled to provide. Where Doku managed just two crosses during his time on the pitch, Moreira delivered five, and Belgium turned a deficit into a 3-2 victory.
Moreira’s backstory is a fascinating one. Born in Liège but eligible for Portugal through his father – former Standard Liège midfielder Almami Moreira, who played senior international football for Guinea-Bissau – Diego initially wanted to represent Portugal and has spoken of his dream of playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. He moved to Portugal at 15 and joined Benfica a year later, though he never started a league game there. He was subsequently acquired by Chelsea as part of their multi-club network before being loaned and eventually moved on to Strasbourg, where he has become a consistent presence over the past two seasons.
His grandfather, Helmut Graf, was a German forward who played for Standard Liège in the 1982 Cup-Winners’ Cup final against Barcelona.
Despite his impact against Senegal, Moreira is unlikely to start against the USA, though coach Rudi Garcia has already shown he is not afraid of bold decisions – withdrawing both De Bruyne and Doku when Belgium needed goals, and turning the game around with fresh legs and renewed energy.
For the full picture on Belgium’s progress and how the group is shaping up, visit our World Cup 2026 hub or check the live standings.