Belgium are into the last 16 of the World Cup 2026 after a stunning comeback. Two goals down to Senegal, they hit back through Romelu Lukaku and a Youri Tielemans brace — the second a 125th-minute extra-time penalty — to win 3-2 at CenturyLink Field. Here are our Belgium player ratings. For more, see our World Cup 2026 hub.
Key match stats
| Stat | Belgium | Senegal |
|---|---|---|
| Shots | 19 | 19 |
| Shots on target | 5 | 5 |
Belgium player ratings vs Senegal
- GK — Thibaut Courtois: 6.5/10 — Beaten twice but made vital stops to keep Belgium in it across 120 minutes.
- RB — Timothy Castagne: 7/10 — Went the distance and grew into the game.
- CB — Brandon Mechele: 6.5/10 — Rocky at 2-0 down but recovered, 93% passing.
- CB — Arthur Theate: 6.5/10 — Steadier as Belgium took control, 94% passing.
- LB — Maxim De Cuyper: 6/10 — Struggled early before being withdrawn.
- DM — Youri Tielemans: 9/10 — The hero. A brace including the extra-time penalty winner, all across 120 minutes.
- DM — Hans Vanaken: 6/10 — Tidy but quiet before making way.
- RW — Jerémy Doku: 6.5/10 — Bright in flashes before being replaced.
- AM — Kevin De Bruyne: 6.5/10 — Some clever touches in his 56 minutes before coming off.
- LW — Leandro Trossard: 7.5/10 — A constant threat and grabbed an assist over 109 minutes.
- ST — Charles De Ketelaere: 5.5/10 — Ineffective and hooked at half-time with Belgium behind.
Substitutes
- Romelu Lukaku: 8/10 — The game-changer — his 86th-minute goal ignited the comeback.
- Thomas Meunier: 7/10 — Provided an assist off the bench.
- Nicolas Raskin: 6.5/10 — Helped steady the midfield.
Belgium vs Senegal: how it unfolded
It looked to be slipping away. Habib Diarra (25) and Ismaïla Sarr (51) put Senegal two up, but Belgium roared back: substitute Romelu Lukaku pulled one back on 86 minutes and Youri Tielemans levelled almost immediately on 89. With the tie deadlocked, Tielemans held his nerve to convert a 125th-minute extra-time penalty and complete a remarkable 3-2 win. The sides finished level on shots (19 apiece), but Belgium found a way into the last 16.
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Belgium beat Senegal 3-2 after extra time in the World Cup 2026 Round of 32, coming from 2-0 down.
Romelu Lukaku pulled one back on 86 minutes and Youri Tielemans scored twice, including a 125th-minute extra-time penalty. Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr had scored for Senegal.
Yes. Belgium beat Senegal 3-2 after extra time in the Round of 32 to reach the Round of 16.
Youri Tielemans won it with a two-goal display, including the extra-time penalty, while substitute Romelu Lukaku sparked the comeback.