How a Belgian striker became a record-breaking force across three different continents
In short: Born in 1997, Hugo Cuypers navigated a turbulent path through bankrupt clubs and loan spells to emerge as a prolific international goalscorer. From the Greek second division to the heights of Major League Soccer and Liga MX, his career trajectory highlights the resilience required to thrive in professional football.
Hugo Cuypers began his professional journey in Belgium, enduring the instability of multiple club bankruptcies at Visé and Excelsior Veldwezelt. His breakthrough arrived at Standard Liège, where he impressed in youth ranks before making his professional debut in 2016. However, it was a move to the Greek side Ergotelis in 2017 that truly defined his development. In a single season, he scored 22 goals, surpassing the club's long-standing record held by Patrick Ogunsoto and earning recognition as the league's best foreign player.
The striker's career is marked by a relentless pursuit of form across diverse leagues. After stints with Olympiacos and Ajaccio, he returned to Belgium, where he flourished at Mechelen and Gent. His 2022–23 campaign saw him finish as the top scorer in the Belgian First Division A. His consistency was remarkable, netting 30 goals in 2022 and 32 in 2023, a performance that placed him among the world's top ten scorers for that year.
In 2024, Cuypers transitioned to Major League Soccer with Chicago Fire FC for a club-record fee. He quickly established himself as a focal point, finishing as the team's top scorer in both 2024 and 2025. His tenure in Chicago concluded with 44 goals in 82 matches, including a record-setting streak of scoring in 10 consecutive appearances. By July 2026, his global journey continued with a move to the Mexican club Monterrey, further cementing his status as a versatile, high-impact forward.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Hugo Cuypers
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-hugo-cuypers.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Born on this day · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
