Player profile
Youri Tielemans
Midfielder · Aston Villa
Belgium captain Youri Tielemans scored twice as his side came from 2-0 down to beat Senegal 3-2 after extra time and reach the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup, his third tournament with the national team.
Career
Tielemans has played every major tournament for Belgium since breaking through at Anderlecht, featuring at the 2018 World Cup (where Belgium finished third), the 2022 World Cup, and now the 2026 edition as captain.
At club level he moved from Leicester City to Aston Villa, establishing himself as a regular in Unai Emery's midfield.
How they play
A deep-lying playmaker with an eye for a long-range strike, Tielemans's two goals against Senegal — including a dramatic late winner — were typical of a player who has always combined a calm passing range with a shot from distance.
Where they are now
Wearing the captain's armband, Tielemans led Belgium to the World Cup quarter-finals in 2026 before a 2-1 defeat to eventual champions Spain, a game in which goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was forced off injured.
Bio
Club career
- Manchester United F.C.2026
- Aston Villa F.C.2023–2026
- Leicester City F.C.2019–2023
- Leicester City F.C.2019
- AS Monaco FC2017–2019
- R.S.C. Anderlecht2013–2017
International career
- Belgium men's national football teamSince 2016Current
Youth caps: U21 (2013–2016) · U16 (2012–2013)
Honours
- Belgian Ebony Shoe2017
Defining moments
Double against Senegal sends Belgium into the last 162026
Tielemans scored twice, including a dramatic late goal, as Belgium came from 2-0 down to beat Senegal 3-2 after extra time in the round of 32.
Latest season stats (ESPN)
In our archive
We haven’t archived a match featuring this player yet — appearances appear here the moment we cover one.
Sources
- ESPN athlete profileJul 18, 2026
- WikidataJul 18, 2026
- Player photo — Bryan BerlinCC BY-SA 4.0
Read for this profile
- Read Aston Villa — Tielemans drags Belgium through as Aston Villa favourite shines on World Cup stageAugust 7, 2026
- Read Aston Villa — Youri Tielemans Faces Spain In Massive Aston Villa World Cup TestAugust 7, 2026
Profile written / last reviewed August 7, 2026.
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War of Soccer is not affiliated with FIFA, Aston Villa, any federation or Youri Tielemans. This page compiles publicly available data (ESPN, Wikidata) descriptively, for identification and commentary only — not an endorsement by or of the player.