Belgium topped the world rankings without ever winning a major trophy
In November 2015 Belgium climbed to number one in the FIFA rankings and stayed there for five months. No other national team has reached the top spot without first winning a World Cup or a continental title. The Red Devils' only gold remains an Olympic final in 1920 that their opponents walked out of.
Belgium was among the first countries on the European mainland to take up football, with play recorded as early as 1863. The national side's first official match, a draw with France in Uccle on 1 May 1904, came just weeks before the Belgian association helped found FIFA; half a century later, it co-founded UEFA too. The team has been called the Red Devils since 1906, after its red shirts, and for decades played the Netherlands and France nearly every year.
Early glory came on home soil at the 1920 Olympics, where Belgium took gold after Czechoslovakia left the pitch in a disputed final. The next decade was grim: Belgium lost every match at the first three World Cups as the game surged ahead in Scandinavia, Central Europe and South America. Under Raymond Goethals the team revived, winning its first World Cup game in 1970 and finishing third as hosts of Euro 1972, having knocked out reigning champions Italy on the way.
The first golden generation, coached by Guy Thys, reached the Euro 1980 final, losing 2–1 to West Germany, came fourth at the 1986 World Cup, and qualified for six World Cups in a row from 1982 to 2002. Across that span and beyond, Belgium also toppled France, Argentina, Brazil and West Germany while each held the world title. Then came a slump, with five straight major tournaments missed.
A second golden generation matured under Marc Wilmots and then the Spanish coach Roberto Martínez. At the 2018 World Cup Belgium won every group game, came back from 2–0 down to beat Japan 3–2 with a winner in the 94th minute, knocked out Brazil and finished third after losing to eventual champions France. Later tournaments disappointed, including a group-stage exit at the 2022 World Cup and a last-16 loss to France at Euro 2024.
Source: Belgium national football team
