Kevin De Bruyne vs Paul Pogba and other rivalries in football

Kevin De Bruyne is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for English club, Manchester City. Let’s have a look at some of the renowned rivalries of Kevin De Bruyne.

File Photo - Kevin De Bruyne in action during the UEFA Champions League; Credit: Twitter/@ChampionsLeague
By annirudh bhalla | Apr 29, 2022 | 3 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Kevin De Bruyne is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for the English club, Manchester City. Born on June 28,1991, De Bruyne started his senior club career with Belgian club, Genk in 2008. After winning the league title with them, he earned a move to Chelsea in the Premier League in 2012 but after lack of playtime, Bundesliga gave him the opportunity to showcase his talents. With Wolfsburg, he truly caught the eyes of the world as a special player and a potential star for the future. Finally, he got a redemption chance in the Premier League with Manchester City in 2015 and it’s fair to say De Bruyne hasn’t disappointed. Seven years on from his move to City, De Bruyne has written his name in the club’s history books and established himself as one of the best in the world.

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Collective and Individual Achievements

Even before joining City in 2015, De Bruyne had opened his trophy cabinet. During his famous 2014/15 season, the midfielder won the DFB-Pokal and also the Footballer of the Year in Germany. However, awards have flooded ever since his journey with Manchester City started. Appearances in the FIFA FIFPro World XI in 2020 and 2021, De Bruyne has also won the PFA Players’ Player of the Year in the same years. Collectively he has won three Premier League titles, five League Cups and a FA Cup title. Being one of the best and most consistent players in the Premier League for such a long time, it doesn’t come as a surprise that the Belgian has been involved in several debates and matchups with various footballers over the years. Let’s have a look at some of the renowned rivalries of Kevin De Bruyne.

Kevin De Bruyne vs Paul Pogba

Playing for city rivals always puts a player in close proximity to rivalries and matchups with other players, especially more when it comes to the Manchester clubs. Playing in the heart of their respective midfield, Kevin De Bruyne and Manchester United’s Paul Pogba have long been compared to each other. Ever since Pogba’s big money move to United in 2016, he has been expected to replicate his glorious time with Juventus at Old Trafford. That however, hasn’t been the case with lack of form and consistency repeatedly halting his progress in England. De Bruyne on the other hand has displayed extraordinary levels of displays and rightly cemented his place amongst the best midfielders in the world. The Belgian even excels in the end product department with 46 goals and 74 assists in the Premier League since 2016 as compared to Pogba’s 29 goals and 38 assists.

Kevin De Bruyne vs Bruno Fernandes

When Bruno Fernandes arrived at Manchester United in January of 2020, he exceeded all the expectations and started to become one of United’s main men. Inevitably, comparisons with Kevin De Bruyne commenced. Owing to the fact that both the midfielders play in an advanced midfield role coupled with their importance to the success of their respective teams, De Bruyne against Fernandes has been the talking point for more than two years now in the Premier League. When it comes to the statistics, the situation tells that the line between the two is much closer than many would think. Since 2019, the Belgian has accumulated 68 goals and assists combined in the Premier League, while Fernandes in the same period has got 60 goals and assists. However, when it comes to big matches, De Bruyne is ahead of his rival with splendid big match performances, something Fernandes has struggled to manage.

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Kevin De Bruyne vs Toni Kroos

Arguably the greatest midfielders of their generation, Toni Kroos and Kevin De Bruyne have mastered the art of midfield. Inevitably, both these players have been subject to constant comparisons and matchups with each other. While Toni Kroos is almost uncatchable when it comes to collective success with four Champions League, a World Cup title, De Bruyne is ahead when it comes to personal statistics and honours. However, much of that has to do with the advanced role the Belgian plays on the pitch allowing him to operate in close proximity to the goal. Kroos, on the other hand, plays more of a role of an anchor dictating play from the deep.