Belgium 3-2 Senegal player ratings: Youri Tielemans and Romelu Lukaku rescue Red Devils as Senegal suffer heartbreaking extra-time defeat

Belgium produced 1 of the top comebacks of the 2026 FIFA World Cup to overturn a two-goal shortage and beat Senegal 3-2 aft other time, with Youri Tielemans scoring twice, including a melodramatic 125th-minute penalty, to nonstop the Red Devils into the circular of 16. 

Trailing for overmuch of the contention successful Seattle, Belgium looked destined for elimination earlier 2 precocious goals successful mean clip forced an further 30 minutes, wherever they completed an bonzer turnaround.

Senegal were the amended broadside for agelong spells and deservedly took the pb successful the 25th infinitesimal erstwhile Habib Diarra finished disconnected a swift attacking move. 

The Lions of Teranga doubled their vantage six minutes into the 2nd fractional arsenic Ismaila Sarr rifled location aft Belgium failed to woody with different unsafe break, leaving the European broadside staring astatine a daze exit.

Belgium yet recovered a mode backmost successful the closing stages erstwhile substitute Romelu Lukaku pulled 1 backmost successful the 86th minute, earlier Tielemans struck 3 minutes aboriginal to level the contention astatine 2-2 and nonstop the necktie into other time. 

Just arsenic penalties appeared inevitable, a VAR reappraisal awarded Belgium a spot footwear heavy into stoppage clip aft Tielemans was fouled, and the midfielder calmly converted from 12 yards to seal a singular 3-2 triumph and publication Belgium's spot successful the past 16.

Here, Sports Mole provides subordinate ratings for the circular of 32 clash.

Belgium subordinate ratings vs Senegal: Fortunate Belgium respire a suspiration of relief

GOALKEEPER

Thibaut Courtois – 4/10

Conceded 2 goals but inactive ended up connected the winning side. He could bash small astir either extremity but made respective important saves to repel Senegal's attacks.

DEFENCE

Jonathan Castagne – 5/10

Had a hard day dealing with Sadio Mane but improved aft Belgium fought their mode backmost into the game.

Brandon Mechele – 5/10

Was troubled by the question of Ismaila Sarr and was booked for a cynical foul connected the Crystal Palace forward. Recovered good and helped Belgium spot retired the game.

Arthur Theate – 5/10

Had a hard crippled during mean time, similar astir of his teammates, but recovered good and helped unopen Senegal down successful other time.

Maxim De Cuyper – 4/10

Fired a changeable wide successful the archetypal fractional and looked similar 1 of Belgium's brighter players during a hard spell. He was substituted successful the 78th minute.

MIDFIELD

Youri Tielemans – 8/10

That was a captain's show from Tielemans. His 2 goals sent Belgium into the circular of 16 aft an abysmal opening 85 minutes. He equalised successful the 89th infinitesimal earlier keeping his composure to person a melodramatic punishment successful the 120th minute.

Hans Vanaken – 3/10

Was anonymous arsenic Senegal dominated proceedings and was substituted successful the 63rd minute.

Kevin De Bruyne – 3.5/10

De Bruyne remains a world-class player, but this was different underwhelming display. He struggled to assistance Belgium power possession against Senegal's energetic midfield and was substituted successful the 56th minute.

ATTACK

Jeremy Doku – 3/10

A disappointing show from the Manchester City winger, who was efficaciously marked retired of the game. He was among Belgium's aboriginal substitutions.

Leandro Trossard – 6/10

Belgium's astir unsafe subordinate passim the game. Even during the opening 85 minutes, erstwhile the Red Devils struggled, Trossard looked the astir apt to make something. He provided the assistance for Tielemans' equaliser successful the 89th minute.

Charles De Ketelaere – 3/10

Produced an abysmal show and was substituted astatine half-time.

SUBSTITUTES

Romelu Lukaku – 6/10

Came disconnected the seat to people his 97th planetary extremity with an fantabulous near-post decorativeness successful the 86th minute. His onslaught sparked Belgium's comeback earlier they completed the turnaround successful other time.

Dodi Lukebakio – 5/10

Replaced Doku successful the 2nd fractional and made a affirmative impact. Curled a changeable narrowly wide from the borderline of the country and delivered respective unsafe crosses.

Nicolas Raskin – 5/10

Helped Belgium prehend the inaugural aft replacing De Bruyne successful the 56th minute.

Thomas Meunier – 6/10

Introduced with 12 minutes of mean clip remaining and provided the assistance for Lukaku's goal. He was tidy successful possession and defended well.

Amadou Onana – 3/10

Came connected precocious successful other clip for Trossard and added physicality against his state of birth.

Senegal subordinate ratings vs Belgium: Lions of Teranga propulsion distant commanding lead

GOALKEEPER

Mory Diaw – 3.5/10

Had precise small to bash for the opening 85 minutes, but his archetypal large mistake proved costly. He rushed retired to assertion a cross, missed the shot wholly and allowed Tielemans to people into an bare net.

DEFENCE

Krepin Diatta – 5/10

Impressed connected the close flank and combined good with Iliman Ndiaye to occupation Belgium.

Pathe Ciss – 4/10

Struggled aft Lukaku came on, with the Belgian striker causing changeless problems. His determination to spell down nether minimal interaction yet resulted successful the decisive penalty.

Moussa Niakhate – 4/10

Looked comfy portion Senegal controlled the crippled but struggled to header with Lukaku and Belgium's precocious attacking surge.

Ismail Jakobs – 5/10

Produced a coagulated show connected the left, combining good with Sadio Mane and causing problems with his agelong throws.

MIDFIELD

Idrissa Gueye – 6/10

The skipper was outstanding throughout, driving Senegal's midfield and investigating Courtois with respective long-range efforts. He was yet replaced successful other clip by Bara Ndiaye.

Habib Diarra – 7/10

Opened the scoring aft Ismaila Sarr's header came backmost disconnected the crossbar, reacting quickest to pat home.

Pape Gueye – 6/10

Rewarded for his match-winning cameo against Iraq with a spot successful the starting XI. He kept possession good and helped Senegal predominate earlier being substituted aft an hour.

ATTACK

Sadio Mane – 6/10

Produced an fantabulous show and remained a changeless menace with his movement, dribbling and passing. He was substituted 2 minutes into other time.

Iliman Ndiaye – 6/10

The Everton guardant was lively throughout, helping Senegal predominate possession and creating problems for Belgium earlier being substituted successful the 73rd minute.

Ismaila Sarr – 7/10

Scored an fantabulous extremity to treble Senegal's vantage and caused Belgium's defence problems throughout. He finished the crippled wearing the captain's armband.

SUBSTITUTES

Lamine Camara – 2/10

Was booked conscionable seconds aft coming connected for a foul connected Trossard and was unfortunate to concede the precocious punishment that handed Belgium victory.

Ibrahim Mbaye – 3/10

The 18-year-old came connected during the hydration interruption for Iliman Ndiaye and missed a glorious accidental to reconstruct Senegal's pb successful the 2nd fractional of other time.

Pape Matar Sarr – 5/10

Came connected during the hydration interruption for Habib Diarra to adhd caller legs successful midfield.

Nicolas Jackson – 3/10

Replaced Mane aboriginal successful other clip and showed flashes of prime with immoderate neat touches and dribbles but failed to marque the decisive impact.

Badou Ndiaye – 3/10

Senegal's last substitute entered successful the 96th infinitesimal for Idrissa Gueye but was incapable to forestall Belgium's melodramatic comeback.