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What to know about Charles De Ketelaere after Belgium star stuns USMNT with early World Cup goal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Charles De Ketelaere wasn't the name most American soccer fans expected to hear early in Belgium's FIFA World Cup Round of 16 showdown against the USMNT.
But just 13 minutes into Monday night's match in Seattle, the Belgian forward silenced the home crowd by scoring the opening goal, giving Belgium a 1-0 lead and putting the United States on the back foot in one of its biggest matches in more than two decades.
For fans wondering who the player is that spoiled the USMNT's fast start, here's everything you need to know about Belgium's rising star.
Who is Charles De Ketelaere?
Charles De Ketelaere is a 25-year-old Belgian international who plays for Italian Serie A club Atalanta. Standing 6-foot-4, he can line up as either a forward or an attacking midfielder, giving Belgium versatility in the final third.
Born in Bruges, Belgium, De Ketelaere came through the youth academy at Club Brugge before making his senior debut in 2019. He quickly emerged as one of Belgium's brightest young talents, helping Club Brugge win three consecutive Belgian league titles. His performances earned him a high-profile transfer to AC Milan in 2022.
AC Milan move didn't go as planned
Expectations were enormous after AC Milan reportedly paid around €35 million to sign De Ketelaere. However, his lone season with the Italian giants proved difficult. He failed to score in Serie A and struggled to consistently earn a starting role, leading many to wonder whether he had been brought in too soon.
Rather than letting that setback define him, De Ketelaere revived his career after moving to Atalanta.
Atalanta helped unlock his potential
The move to Atalanta completely changed De Ketelaere's trajectory. Initially arriving on loan before making the transfer permanent, he rediscovered the attacking form that made him one of Europe's top young prospects. During his first season with the club, he finished with 14 goals and 11 assists across all competitions while helping Atalanta capture the UEFA Europa League title.
His ability to create chances, score goals and play multiple attacking positions has made him one of Serie A's most dangerous offensive players.
Belgium has trusted him on the biggest stage
De Ketelaere made his senior Belgium debut in 2020 and has steadily become an important piece of the national team. He represented Belgium at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and has continued earning regular minutes alongside stars such as Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne.
Although De Bruyne surprisingly began Monday's knockout match against the United States on the bench, Belgium still had plenty of firepower, and De Ketelaere showed exactly why manager Rudi Garcia trusted him in the starting lineup.
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De Ketelaere gives Belgium dream start against USMNT
Belgium had been threatening almost from kickoff. Goalkeeper Matt Freese made an outstanding save in the opening minute before Belgium continued creating dangerous opportunities inside the American penalty area. After several close calls, De Ketelaere finally broke through in the 13th minute, calmly finishing to give Belgium the early advantage.
The goal immediately changed the pressure facing Mauricio Pochettino's squad, forcing the United States to chase the match while trying to reach its first World Cup quarterfinal since 2002.
For American fans who didn't know much about Charles De Ketelaere before Monday night, his name quickly became one they won't soon forget.
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