Belgium’s golden generation has produced some of Europe’s wealthiest footballers over the past decade. The country’s players dominate Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A squads while commanding premium salaries.
From Kevin De Bruyne’s record-breaking Manchester City contract to Romelu Lukaku’s Serie A earnings, Belgian players have built substantial wealth through European club deals and smart endorsements.
Discover more about Belgian football stars’ careers and soccer players net worth by exploring their profiles.
| Goalkeeper | Defender | Midfielder | Forward |
| Maarten Vandevoordt | Arthur Theate | Kevin De Bruyne | Romelu Lukaku |
| Matz Sels | Zeno Debast | Youri Tielemans | Loïs Openda |
| Senne Lammens | Wout Faes | Amadou Onana | Jérémy Doku |
| Nordin Jackers | Brandon Mechele | Charles De Ketelaere | Leandro Trossard |
| Koen Casteels | Thomas Meunier | Hans Vanaken | Dodi Lukebakio |
| Michel Preud’homme | Maxim De Cuyper | Nicolas Raskin | Alexis Saelemaekers |
| Simon Mignolet | Koni De Winter | Jorthy Mokio | Diego Moreira |
| Josué Daland | Orel Mangala | Malick Fofana | |
| Sebastiaan Bornauw | Aster Vranckx | Michy Batshuayi | |
| Timothy Castagne | Romeo Lavia | Charles Vanhoutte | |
| Toby Alderweireld | Yannick Carrasco | Henry Martin | |
| Clement Lenglet | Dries Mertens | Loïs Openda | |
| Toby Alderweireld | Miguel Almiron |
10 Richest Football Players in Belgium
Belgium’s wealthiest players combine long Premier League careers with lucrative endorsement portfolios.
Kevin De Bruyne leads active players with a net worth between $85-100 million, while retired star Eden Hazard accumulated approximately $100 million through his Chelsea and Real Madrid contracts.
| Player Name | Annual Salary | Estimated Net Worth | Current Status |
| Kevin De Bruyne | £20.8 million ($27M) | $85-100 million | Manchester City (Active) |
| Thibaut Courtois | £10 million ($13M) | $100 million | Real Madrid (Active) |
| Romelu Lukaku | £6.66 million ($8.7M) | $150 million | Napoli (Active) |
| Eden Hazard | N/A | $100 million | Retired |
| Jan Vertonghen | €1.69 million | $35-40 million | Anderlecht (Active) |
| Toby Alderweireld | €2.29 million | $30-35 million | Antwerp (Active) |
| Axel Witsel | £2 million | $25-30 million | Active |
| Dries Mertens | £3 million | $20-25 million | Active |
| Yannick Carrasco | £4 million | $18-22 million | Active |
| Jeremy Doku | £3.5 million | $10-15 million | Manchester City (Active) |
Romelu Lukaku tops the list with $150 million accumulated through massive contracts at Chelsea, Inter Milan, Manchester United, and now Napoli. His €7.6 million annual Napoli salary includes performance bonuses that can push total earnings to €10.1 million yearly.
Kevin De Bruyne earns the highest salary among Belgian players at £400,000 weekly, making him the Premier League’s top earner. His Manchester City contract delivers £20.8 million annually, supplemented by £4 million in endorsements from Nike, EA Sports, and other brands.
Thibaut Courtois built his $100 million net worth through consistent elite-level salaries at Chelsea and Real Madrid. His current £10 million annual salary at Real Madrid ranks among the highest for goalkeepers worldwide.
Belgium National Team Payment Structure
The Belgian Football Association pays players €7,000-€10,000 per match, depending on competition level. This places Belgium among Europe’s better-compensated national teams for appearance fees.
Major tournament bonuses significantly boost these base payments during World Cup and European Championship campaigns.
National Team Earnings:
- Friendly Matches: €7,000 per appearance
- Competitive Qualifiers: €8,000-€9,000 per match
- Major Tournaments: €10,000+ per game with additional performance bonuses
- Tournament Progression: Substantial bonuses for advancing through knockout rounds
- World Cup 2022: Squad received significant bonus payments for reaching the group stage
Belgium’s third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup earned players substantial FIFA prize money distributions. Each squad member received approximately €300,000-€400,000 in tournament bonuses on top of regular match fees.
Belgian Pro League Salaries vs. European Earnings
The Belgian Pro League pays modest domestic salaries compared to Europe’s elite competitions. Amadou Diawara leads the league at £80,000 weekly (£4.16 million annually) at Anderlecht, while most Belgian-born players earn £50,000-£70,000 per week domestically.
This wage gap pushes Belgium’s top talents toward Premier League and Serie A moves early in their careers.
| League | Average Top Salary | Example Player | Career Potential |
| Belgian Pro League | £70,000/week | Simon Mignolet | $5-10M over 10 years |
| Premier League | £340,000/week | Kevin De Bruyne | $100M+ over career |
| Serie A | £150,000/week | Romelu Lukaku | $50-100M over career |
| La Liga | £180,000/week | Jan Oblak (similar profile) | $50-80M over career |
Legendary Belgian Players’ Career Wealth
Belgium’s previous generation built substantial fortunes during the Premier League’s financial explosion in the 2010s. These pioneers opened doors for today’s golden generation to command even higher salaries.
| Legendary Player | Playing Era | Est. Career Net Worth | Peak Annual Salary | Primary Clubs |
| Eden Hazard | 2007-2023 | $100 million | £25M | Chelsea, Real Madrid |
| Vincent Kompany | 2003-2019 | $60 million | £6M | Manchester City |
| Marouane Fellaini | 2000-2019 | $35 million | £7M | Manchester United, Everton |
| Thomas Vermaelen | 2003-2019 | $28 million | £5M | Arsenal, Barcelona |
Eden Hazard accumulated his $100 million fortune through seven stellar years at Chelsea, followed by a lucrative Real Madrid transfer. His Chelsea contract paid approximately £12 million annually before Real Madrid nearly doubled that figure to £25 million per year.
Vincent Kompany spent 11 years as Manchester City captain, earning over £60 million in total career wages. His testimonial match and various Manchester business investments supplemented football earnings throughout retirement.
FAQs
1. Who is the richest Belgian footballer?
Romelu Lukaku holds this title with an estimated $150 million net worth from his contracts at Manchester United, Inter Milan, Chelsea, and Napoli. Among active players, Kevin De Bruyne ranks second with $85-100 million accumulated through his Manchester City career.
2. What is Kevin De Bruyne’s salary at Manchester City?
De Bruyne earns £400,000 per week at Manchester City, totaling £20.8 million annually. This makes him the Premier League’s highest-paid player and one of Europe’s top earners across all positions.
3. How much do Belgian national team players earn per match?
Belgian players receive €7,000-€10,000 per match depending on the competition level. Major tournaments like the World Cup offer substantially higher per-match fees plus progression bonuses that can reach €300,000-€400,000 for deep tournament runs.
4. What is the average salary in the Belgian Pro League?
Top Belgian Pro League players earn between £50,000-£80,000 weekly, with the highest-paid player (Amadou Diawara at Anderlecht) making £80,000 per week. This equals approximately £4.16 million annually, far below Premier League standards.
5. Why do Belgian players earn less domestically than in England?
The Belgian Pro League generates significantly less television revenue and commercial income than the Premier League. English clubs earn 10-15 times more from broadcasting rights, allowing them to pay proportionally higher salaries that Belgian clubs cannot match.
