Jan Mulder warns Kevin De Bruyne must quit before he fades

Jan Mulder, the Dutch former striker and football analyst, says he believes Kevin De Bruyne should quit the Belgium national team now that the WK 2026 is over for the Rode Duivels, arguing Hij must keep a low profile to avoid becoming a mere follower. Against the Verenigde Staten, De Bruyne remained on the bench for the entire match. When Belgium faced Spanje, Rudi Garcia reinstated the midfielder in the starting eleven. That appearance marked De Bruyne’s 124th cap for België, and he also wore the captain’s armband after Youri Tielemans’ injury. After 86 minutes, Alexis Saelemaekers replaced him, ending De Bruyne’s influence on the game. He struggled to leave a mark against La Roja, a pattern that has become more frequent for the Belg.

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After the match, the Nederlandse analyst spoke to , asking, “Zou Kevin De Bruyne now stop for België?” He added, “Hij moet zich nu een beetje gedeisd houden, anders wordt hij een meeloper,” stressing that the brilliant player must stay modest. The Nederlander emphasized that the player’s future decisions will affect the squad’s dynamics.

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Mulder believes De Bruyne’s potential retirement could signal the end of an era for the Rode Duivels as they look ahead to rebuilding after the WK disappointment. The Dutch commentator suggests the Belgian side must find new leadership to remain competitive in upcoming internationals.