There is an elegance to the way Kevin De Bruyne plays his football that takes you by complete surprise, know about his career and biography
At least, at first glance, the Belgian doesn’t appear to be a standout athlete of any notable quality. Indeed, there is an endearing ordinariness to the 30-year-old that perhaps, at one stage, lulled you into thinking that he wouldn’t be the star player for Manchester City and Belgium. The reality, however, is that as soon as the ball reaches his feet, time stands still and the world stops, thanks to the style and grace the midfielder plays with.
Kevin De Bruyne Playing Style, Career And Biography
There was no better example of De Bruyne’s genius than the recent European semi-final first leg against Real Madrid when City ran out 4-3 winners. Indeed, the midfielder maestro dictated play from the first minute and even headed home the fastest Champions League semi-final goal in the competition’s history after just 94 seconds. It was yet another breathtaking illustration of De Bruyne’s match-winning qualities, although admittedly, this has been the trend for the entire season with the 30-year-old notching up, as of the 5th of May, 15 goals and 12 assists in just 41 games.
All things being equal, it has been a startling return in a remarkable season for De Bruyne and yes, there will of course be disappointment regarding the Champions League exit at the Bernabeu in the second leg, but the Belgian isn’t to blame for that. Rather, Pep Guardiola’s substitutes cost City vital momentum at a crucial stage and subsequently opened the door for a Madrid side that doesn’t need a second invitation.
Guardiola’s ability to constantly overthink and Real Madrid’s opportunism aside, there is also an argument to be made about City’s other stars taking responsibility when the chips are down. Indeed, there does appear to be an overreliance on De Bruyne to get his colleagues out of the fire, and notably, that is a trend that is not exclusive to just his domestic team.
Belgium’s golden generation is also certainly guilty of that and this is perhaps part of the reason why they haven’t yet won any major trophy with not enough players taking accountability when it matters most. Crucially, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will certainly be the last chance for this group of players to finally leave their mark on the international stage with De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, and Thibaut Courtois all unlikely to feature in another World Cup after the showpiece in the desert owing to the fact that they will be in their mid-thirties come 2026.
Interestingly, bet365, which can be found on this list of the best FIFA World Cup betting sites available, price the Belgians at 12/1 to win the event which leaves you thinking that the country’s best day may already be behind them.
Whether that is the case or not, you do get the overwhelming sense that 2018 was a missed opportunity for these players as eternal glory was within touching distance. With that being said, we know the FIFA World Cup is officially the biggest sports event in the world, and fans in large numbers from all over the globe will still be backing the perennial Belgian underachievers during their last hurrah as a team.
It goes without saying but it would of course be a shame if De Bruyne retired without winning any major international honours when you consider that he is, arguably, the most complete midfielder of this generation.
Irrespective of what the future does or doesn’t bring, the Belgian wonder will always be remembered for being the best player in any team that he played for.