Kevin De Bruyne is one of the best soccer players of this generation and some pundits describe him as a complete footballer. He plays as a midfielder for Belgium national team and Manchester City in the premier league.
Described as ‘The Best Player in the Midfield Position’ by Pep Guardiola, Kevin De Bruyne is one of the most creative playmakers of all time.
De Bruyne has one of the most impressive assists records as a midfielder. He is also known for his intellectual and creative passing abilities.
Furthermore, De Bruyne is one of the most important players for Manchester City. He has repeatedly helped his team win the Premier League and FA Cup.
He was awarded the PFA Player of the Year award in 2020 for his outstanding season.
Just as his professional life is filled with excitement and drama, De Bruyne’s personal life also doesn’t disappoint. Read along this blog to learn about his childhood, past relationship, and scandals.
Before we head on to learn about the exciting life of De Bruyne, let’s look at some quick facts about him.
Kevin De Bruyne | Quick Facts
Full Name | Kevin De Bruyne |
Birth Date | 28 June 1991 |
Birth Place | Drongen, Ghent, Belgium |
Nick Name | The Ginger Pele |
Nationality | Belgian |
Ethnicity | White |
Education | Unknown |
Horoscope | Cancer |
Father’s Name | Herwig De Bruyne |
Mother’s Name | Anna De Bruyne |
Age | 33 years old |
Height | 5’ 11″/1.81 m/181 cm |
Weight | 68 kg/150 lb. |
Shoe Size | N/A |
Hair Color | Blond |
Eye Color | Blue |
Build | Athletic |
Married | Yes |
Wife | Michele Lacroix De Bruyne |
Ex-Girlfriend | Yes (Caroline Lijnen) |
Spouse | Yes |
Position | Midfielder |
Profession | Soccer Player |
Net Worth | $60 Million |
Clubs | Manchester City, Chelsea, Wolfsburg, KVV Dronge, Werder Bremen |
Jersey Number | 17 (Manchester City), 7 (Belgium National Team) |
Social Media | Twitter, Instagram |
Merch | Jersey, Card, Poster, Calendar |
Last Update | November, 2024 |
Kevin De Bruyne | Age, Height & Physical Appearance
The midfield magician has several awards and accolades to his name. Despite having ample experience, De Bruyne is only 33 years old.
Moreover, the star sign of De Bruyne is Cancer. They are known for being an excellent communicator, outgoing, and extroverted.
So, how tall is the Belgian midfielder? The midfield maestro stands at an impressive height of 5 feet and 11 inches (1.81 m).
His perfect height allows him to command the central and offensive midfield position.
Similarly, the handsome De Bruyne has golden-colored hair. Also, he has beautiful blue-colored eyes. Moreover, De Bruyne is regarded as one of the most attractive players in the Premier League.
Kevin De Bruyne | Early Life, Career & Family
Early Life & Family
Kevin De Bruyne was born in the city of Drongen in Belgium. He was born to his parents, Herwig De Bruyne and Anna De Bruyne.
One interesting thing about De Bruyne’s family is that his mother is from England.
Likewise, Anna De Bruyne’s family owns an oil farm in Burundi, East Africa. As a result, De Bruyne traveled to England and Africa quite often.
Moreover, Anna is currently a professional in Petroleum Engineering.
The family business has been handed over to her. Likewise, she looks after companies located in Burundi and Ivory Coast.
Moreover, De Bruyne’s father, Herwig De Bruyne, is a senior businessman. He also manages the professional career of Kevin De Bruyne.
Due to his intense negotiation skills, De Bruyne has been able to land big contracts and sponsorships.
Starting Young
Like every genius has a solid upbringing, Kevin De Bruyne began playing football at the young age of four. Most of us at four would be playing toys or games.
Likewise, De Bruyne had the determination to work hard from a very young age. Despite being incredibly talented, De Bruyne never stopped working hard to nurture his talents.
Moreover, coaches predicted that Kevin would be the face of Belgian football.
As stated, De Bruyne was a unique talent from a very young age. Before De Bruyne, Belgium’s national team was full of conventional simple players who played mediocre football.
The Rise Of Kevin De Bruyne
De Bruyne had the habit of being in the limelight from a very young age. Moreover, while playing in the youth system, Kevin frequently faced multiple interviews before and after the football matches.
Kevin De Bruyne was destined for greatness from day one of his playing days. No wonder many scouts were tracking his progress from the very start.
Genk Academy
Kevin De Bruyne’s first big move came when he left his hometown and traveled to Ghent at 14. Similarly, the Belgian wonder joined Genk football academy.
After joining the academy, De Bruyne became extensively engaged in training and practice. He only got to meet his family during the weekends.
At the tender age of 14, De Bruyne had already learned to become independent and self-reliant.
One of Kevin’s greatest life lessons was to manage his life and finances. While at the academy, De Bruyne wasn’t compensated with a lot of money.
However, he had already learned to manage himself by then.
He stated the following in an interview.
“Managing myself is something my parents taught me. I am not somebody who spends a lot of money in my life.
I keep it for later when I want to do something, for vacations- because we don’t have a lot of time off.
During the season, I am at home. I cook myself good food. I’m happy. I have lived alone from the age of 14.”
Kevin De Bruyne | Dating, Girlfriend & Relationship
So, is the hot prospect currently single, or is he in a relationship already? Let’s find out.
Unfortunately, we have bad news for those who have a crush on the handsome player. Kevin De Bruyne is taken and happily married.
Kevin De Bruyne is married to his long-time partner and girlfriend, Michele Lacroix. The pair were married in 2017 and had two sons and a daughter together.
Moreover, Michele Lacroix worked as a guest and operational girl for Prime Impressions in Belgium. She is 30 years old.
Michele Lacroix was born on 8 December 1993 in Genk. Moreover, she studied at the University of Hasselt in her home country Belgium.
According to reports, Michele and Kevin met when Kevin was playing for Wolfsburg.
Before their marriage, De Bruyne romantically proposed to Michele in Paris back in 2016.
Where Did Kevin De Bruyne And Michele Lacroix Marry?
The pair were married romantically and stunningly in 2017. Moreover, they grandly held their wedding ceremony in Italy. The guest list included family, close friends, and other soccer stars.
Michele married Kevin in a beautiful white dress. Likewise, Kevin wore a black suit with a white shirt at their wedding.
Children
Moving forward, let’s talk about De Bruyne and Michele’s family. Firstly, Michele gave birth to a beautiful boy named Mason Milian in 2016.
The cute boy is just like his father and is proliferating day by day.
Likewise, the pair went on to have two more children. A life blessed them with another beautiful baby boy named Rome.
Rome De Bruyne was born on October 31st, 2018. Just like his older brother Mason, Rome is charming and adorable.
Alongside Rome and Mason, a third baby was born to Kevin and Michelle. On September 2020, Michele gave birth to a beautiful girl named Suri.
Likewise, Suri is extremely charming and is loved by her brothers.
You can also follow the gorgeous Michelle Lacroix on her Instagram page. She has an incredible fan following of 363k followers. Moreover, she posts pictures of her family and herself.
You can follow Michelle Lacroix at @lacroixmichele.
Does Michele Lacroix Attend De Bruyne’s Matches?
Being a mother of three, it takes a lot of effort to look after three kids. Moreover, being married to a star celebrity is another responsibility added to one’s life.
Despite all this, Michele does manage to watch her husband play soccer.
To clarify, she doesn’t attend every single Manchester City match. But she is always there to support her husband and the team during special occasions.
De Bruyne’s Scandal With His Ex-Girlfriend
Despite De Bruyne’s happy and joyous relationship with his wife Michele Lacroix, things were always not so delightful. In the past, De Bruyne was in a relationship with his girlfriend, Caroline Lijnen.
However, De Bruyne was heartbroken because his ex-girlfriend Caroline Lijnen cheated on him with Thibaut Courtois.
Yes, you heard it right. De Bruyne’s teammate had an affair with his girlfriend.
So, How Did All Of This Happen?
According to Caroline, De Bruyne first had an affair with one of her best friends in 2012. According to her, it was Kevin who cheated first.
However, Caroline couldn’t do anything about the affair as Kevin’s parents threatened her not to speak about it.
Moreover, Caroline had to remain silent due to other pressures on her. After finding out about the affair, their relationship never stayed the same.
Caroline traveled to Madrid in the summer of 2013. During the trip, she met with Belgian goalkeeper and Kevin’s teammate Thibaut Courtois.
Likewise, during the trip, she became close and intimate with Thibaut.
“That evening, Thibaut offered me what I had not received during a three-year relationship with Kevin.”
In an interview, Caroline expressed that she could talk about anything with Thibaut.
Moreover, she revealed that Thibaut cooked for her, which De Bruyne never did in their three-year relationship.
In an attempt to take revenge, Caroline started a fling with Courtois.
What do you think about this scandal? Comment down below if you think De Bruyne was at fault for having an affair.
Are De Bruyne And Courtois On Good Terms Right Now?
Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois were a part of the golden generation of the Belgium national team. The scandal by Courtois caused major mayhem in the national team.
Courtois’s place in the team was under threat due to the scandal.
However, the pair continues to remain on good terms. Well, that is what we see on the outside.
Despite cooperating with the team, there are reports that the two of them dislike each other.
However, De Bruyne has revealed in his book that he had a major say in keeping Courtois on the national team. De Bruyne was asked by Belgium’s coach regarding the inclusion of Thibaut Courtois.
Likewise, De Bruyne felt that it was okay for Courtois to continue playing as he was a good goalkeeper.
Kevin De Bruyne | Personal Life
Meeting Salt Bae
Well, if we know one thing De Bruyne likes, then that is food. The Belgian superstar was seen visiting the famous Salt Bae or Nusret on March 20, 2018, in Dubai, UAE.
Salt Bae has met famous superstars like Maradona, Canelo Alvarez, Conor McGregor, and Virgil Van Dijk.
Moreover, Salt Bae is famous for pouring out salt in a unique fashion. KDB’s visit shows that he loves visiting favorite places and enjoys a good steak.
De Bruyne’s Book, Keep It Simple
The famous midfield magician also has a book to his name. Kevin De Bruyne published a book titled “Keep it Simple” in 2014.
The book is an autobiography of the famous star and his journey to stardom.
The book features intricate details of his life and touches on his childhood and family.
Moreover, the book also talks about his relationship with his ex-girlfriend and Thibaut Courtois.
De Bruyne Loves Gaming
The Ginger Pele is also known as a gaming enthusiast. Moreover, De Bruyne takes time from his busy schedule to play and stream games like Fortnite and PUBG.
Likewise, during the Covid-19 pandemic, De Bruyne partnered with Twitch to raise money to save lives.
Kevin De Bruyne | Professional Career
De Bruyne plays as a midfielder and sometimes as a winger. So, how did Kevin De Bruyne rise to stardom? Let’s begin by taking a look at his footballing journey.
De Bruyne first started playing football for his hometown club KVV Drongen in 1997. Moreover, after playing for Drongen, Kevin moved to Genk and signed for the football club Genk.
Similarly, the midfielder made his debut for the club on 9 May 2009 against Charleroi.
Furthermore, De Bruyne made 97 appearances for Genk. In the process, he managed to score 16 goals.
Move to Chelsea
De Bruyne showed signs of excellence at Genk. Likewise, he was being tracked by many clubs abroad. As a result, Chelsea signed De Bruyne on the deadline day of 31 January 2021 for $8.2 million.
Moreover, Chelsea saw the signing of De Bruyne for the long term as they signed him for five-and-a-half years. De Bruyne debuted for Chelsea in a pre-season game against Seattle Sounders.
De Bruyne was transferred on loan to Werder Bremen on a season-long loan in 2012. Likewise, Bruyne went on to impress everyone with his loan spell. Also, after the loan spell ended, De Bruyne returned to Chelsea.
Chelsea’s manager Jose Mourinho assured De Bruyne about his involvement in the team.
Despite the assurances, De Bruyne was out of favor under the management of Mourinho.
As a result, Kevin decided to leave the club and joined the German club, Wolfsburg.
Wolfsburg
The young talent never gave up despite moving clubs frequently. Moreover, he believed in himself that he would make it to the biggest stage in the world of soccer.
German club Wolfsburg signed De Bruyne for a fee of $21.3 million. Moreover, the midfielder played excellently for the club and helped the team win the 2015 DFL-Super Cup.
Furthermore, De Bruyne was also awarded the 2015 Germany Footballer of the Year.
De Bruyne made 73 appearances for Wolfsburg. Also, he scored 20 goals and made 37 assists for them in three seasons.
Manchester City FC
After thoroughly performing well for Wolfsburg, Manchester City developed a keen interest in the Belgian midfielder. As a result, they bid multiple times to sign the player.
Finally, Manchester City was able to sign De Bruyne for a club-record fee of $77 million, including additional costs.
De Bruyne signed a six-year contract with the premier league club. The player’s arrival at Manchester City might have changed the fortunes of the club.
Manuel Pellegrini brought the talented midfielder to help the team score more.
Already, the club had filled the squad with talented players like Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Yaya Toure, and Raheem Sterling.
The addition of De Bruyne made Manchester City a powerhouse of English soccer.
Moreover, the experience of De Bruyne and his on-field talents were precious. Kevin made his debut for the club on 12 September 2015 against Crystal Palace.
Likewise, De Bruyne was shortlisted as one of the prestigious Ballon d’Or players on 2 October 2015.
Moreover, he made it to the 23-man shortlist for the award. Argentinian player Leo Messi later won the award that year.
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Under Manager Pep Guardiola
It can be quite easily said that De Bruyne became a new beast under Pep Guardiola. Pep Guardiola took over to manage Manchester City on 1st July 2016.
He had successfully managed Bayern Munich and Barcelona before. Guardiola always knew how to get the best out of his players.
Due to him, Messi became a lethal threat and won the Ballon d’Or many times. So, Guardiola came with an abundance of experience.
In Guardiola’s first season, he offloaded many unwanted players from the team. De Bruyne assisted 18 times and scored six goals in his first season under Pep Guardiola.
This type of performance continued throughout the next few seasons.
Likewise, from the 2017/18 season, De Bruyne helped Guardiola dominate the English Premiership. Kevin scored eight goals and assisted 16 times in the 2017/18 season.
Due to his contribution, City was able to win the Premier League for the third time.
Moreover, De Bruyne helped his team build up to goals in an easy manner. He would set assists for Aguero, Sane, and Sterling from left, right, and center.
Assists Records And Goal Scorer
Kevin De Bruyne hails as one of the greatest assisters of all time. The Premier League assists record for a season stands at 20 assists made by Thierry Henry. Moreover, in second place ranks Arsenal ace Mesut Ozil with 19 assists.
De Bruyne had previously come close to matching the record with 18 assists. However, in the 2019/20 season, De Bruyne equaled the assists record set by Thierry Henry.
Kevin also matched the assists record by setting 20 assists for Manchester City.
All together for Manchester City, De Bruyne has an outstanding 134 assists in all competitions. He sits in first place for the all-time assists record for Manchester City with 96 assists.
Likewise, Kevin De Bruyne has a total of 136 goals in his playing career. Also, the midfield maestro has an astonishing assists record. De Bruyne has a total of 218 career assists throughout his career.
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Kevin De Bruyne | FIFA 23 Rating
What has De Bruyne been rated in the EA Sports game FIFA 21? Well, don’t you worry. We have all the information that you need.
De Bruyne has an outstanding rating of 91 in FIFA 21. Among his highest attributes ratings, De Bruyne has 88 ratings in dribbling and 93 in passing. His lowest rating comes on the defensive side, as he is rated 64.
His rating in FIFA 22 is the same as FIFA 21 and with similar stats for passing and dribbling.
Similarly, in FIFA 23, Kevin has maintained similar stats in the latest FIFA game. His rating is 91, with high attacking and defensive work rates.
Belgium National Team
De Bruyne is also one of the top contributors to the Belgian National team. Moreover, he has featured in various under-18, under-19, under-21, and senior-level formats.
Likewise, De Bruyne debuted for the national team on 11 August 2010 in a friendly match against Finland.
One interesting fact about De Bruyne’s international career is that he can also play for Burundi. This is due to his mother’s affiliation with Burundi.
Furthermore, De Bruyne has featured for Belgium in the 2014 World Cup, 2016 Euro Championship, and 2018 World Cup.
Qatar World Cup 2022
There is no way Belgium is missing this master playmaker that can influence the whole gameplay and take the lead of the game. We will get to witness De Bruyne cast his spell on the big stage. The Belgium team is ranked second by FIFA and is one of the teams likely to win the World Cup, as stated by many pundits.
Considering his Manchester City game, Kevin will indeed perform exceptionally well in Qatar.
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The Awards And Accolades Of Kevin De Bruyne
De Bruyne holds an impressive list of awards and achievements. The player nicknamed ‘The Ginger Pele’ has been awarded the UEFA Champions League Midfielder of the Season 2019/20, Premier League Player of the Season 2019/20, and IFFHS World’s Best Playmaker 2020.
Moreover, the list of individual honors goes very long for De Bruyne. However, we have only included the important awards of De Bruyne.
- Bundesliga Player of the Year 2014/15
- Footballer of the Year 2015
- Belgian Sportsman of the Year 2015
- France Football World XI 2015
- FIFA World Cup Dream Team 2018
- Premier League Playmaker of the Season 2017/18, 2019/20
- UEFA (Men) Player of the Year 2019/20 (2nd Place)
Kevin De Bruyne | Net Worth
So, what is the big number behind Kevin De Bruyne’s net worth? Well, if you are unaware of it, we have got you covered. The midfield maestro has accumulated his net worth through his playing career in various clubs.
De Bruyne has played for the Belgian national team Chelsea, Wolfsburg, and Manchester City.
Likewise, Kevin has done many sponsorships with various companies like Nike due to his popularity and perfect appearance.
De Bruyne is currently tied up with Manchester City till 2025. Moreover, his weekly wages are incredibly high. Kevin De Bruyne earns a massive $410,000 per week.
Also, the assist maestro stacks $24.66 million every season.
According to various online sources, Kevin De Bruyne has an outstanding net worth of $60 million.
Currently, De Bruyne is the second-highest-paid player in the premier league. He stands behind Cristiano Ronaldo and the new signing of Manchester City, Haaland, who receive $610.5k and $1 million per week respectively.
Likewise, Manchester City is satisfied with the amount they pay for Kevin De Bruyne’s services.
As De Bruyne frequently provides assists and sets goals for his teammates, De Bruyne is worth all the money he is being paid.
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Kevin De Bruyne | Social Media Presence
Yes, the Belgian football player is an active player on social media. Kevin De Bruyne uses three social media platforms.
Likewise, in all of his social media, he has a huge fan following that surmounts millions.
Kevin De Bruyne uses Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook using the handles @kevindebruyne, @KevinDeBruyne and @Kevin De Bruyne.
The player loves posting pictures of himself and his team, training pictures, and family pictures. Also, he likes to give his opinion on various matches.
Besides posting about game highlights, De Bruyne frequently posts about his children.
Instagram: 19.5m followers
View this post on Instagram
Twitter: 4.1m followers
Facebook: 17m followers
Kevin De Bruyne | Popularity
Kevin is popular among the soccer fanatics and among the females for his charming looks. He makes the headlines for making impressive assists and skills during games.
The above image gives a brief information about kevin’s popularity in the United States over a year.
Kevin De Bruyne | FAQs
What is Kevin De Bruyne’s salary
Kevin De Bruyne earns a whopping $410k per week.
Who is Kevin De Bruyne married to?
De Bruyne is married to the amazing and gorgeous Michele Lacroix. Together, they have three children.
Is Kevin De Bruyne the greatest playmaker?
Yes, De Bruyne is one of the greatest playmakers in the Premier League. He has equaled Thierry Henry’s assists record of 20 assists per season.
Is Kevin De Bruyne left or right-footed?
De Bruyne is naturally right-footed. However, despite that, his left-foot is as strong as his right foot. So, he uses both of his feet. According to his FIFA ratings, he has 5 star for his weak foot.
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