Nicolas Raskin: Belgium 2026 World Cup Biography, Stats & Profile

1. Executive Summary

Nicolas Raskin is a Belgian professional footballer, born on February 23, 2001, in Liège, Belgium, who has rapidly emerged as one of the most promising central midfielders in Belgian football. Operating primarily as a central or defensive midfielder, Raskin has built a career spanning top-tier Belgian clubs and the Scottish Premiership, currently representing Rangers FC. He is a confirmed member of Belgium’s 2026 FIFA World Cup squad and has already accumulated 19 senior international caps with 2 goals [2][7].

His World Cup participation is documented by FotMob as 8 matches, 1 goal, and 2 assists [8], though a competing source (The Stats Zone) records 6 appearances with 0 goals [12]. This analysis details Raskin’s biography, club and international career trajectory, statistical performances, and his specific role within the Belgian national team during the 2026 World Cup qualification and tournament preparation phases, drawing exclusively on publicly available data.

2. Personal Biography & Early Life

Nicolas Raskin was born on February 23, 2001, in Liège, a major city in the Wallonia region of Belgium. As of 2026, he is 25 years old and stands at 1.78 m (approximately 5 feet 10 inches) tall, weighing 74 kg. He is a right-footed player, a detail that influences his passing tendencies and shooting mechanics on the pitch.

Raskin’s footballing development took place entirely within Belgium’s renowned youth academy system. He began his formative years at KAA Gent, one of Belgium’s most storied clubs, before moving to Standard Liège — his hometown club — where he further refined his technical and tactical skills. This dual-academy background gave him exposure to two distinct Belgian footballing philosophies: the more progressive, possession-oriented approach associated with Gent and the historically combative, physically demanding style of Standard Liège.

His estimated market value as of current reporting stands at €11.4 million, a figure that reflects his steady progression through professional football and his growing reputation at both club and international levels. While this valuation is an estimate based on transfer market algorithms and should be treated as indicative rather than definitive, it places Raskin firmly in the upper tier of Belgian midfield talent emerging in the early 2000s generation.

3. Club Career: A Steady Rise Through Belgian and Scottish Football

3.1. Youth Development and Early Professional Years

Raskin’s professional career began in the academy system at KAA Gent, where he developed the technical foundation that would later define his playing style. His transition to Standard Liège marked a significant step, as he moved into a more prominent first-team environment within the Belgian Pro League [2]. These formative years were crucial for his development as a midfielder, exposing him to high-intensity Belgian football and the physical demands of professional competition at a young age.

3.2. Transfer to Rangers FC

Raskin’s career took a significant turn when he transferred to Rangers FC in the Scottish Premiership for a reported fee of £1.5 million [10]. This move represented both a step up in terms of European visibility and a challenging adaptation to a new league, culture, and playing style. The Scottish Premiership, while not as commercially prominent as England’s Premier League or Spain’s La Liga, offers a high-tempo, physically demanding environment that has historically served as a proving ground for young midfielders looking to establish themselves in top-flight European football.

3.3. Rangers FC: Detailed Performance Metrics

At Rangers, Raskin has made 96 league appearances and scored 11 goals across five seasons [10]. His 2025–26 season performance metrics — including goals, assists, passes, tackles, and match ratings — have been documented in detail, reflecting his growing importance to the team’s midfield structure [10]. Across his entire club career, Raskin has accumulated 250 total appearances and scored 18 goals in all competitions [7]. His league-specific numbers stand at 177 appearances and 15 goals [2], indicating that a meaningful portion of his goal contributions come in cup and European competitions, where midfielders often play more attacking roles.

Raskin’s performances at Rangers have solidified his reputation as a reliable and dynamic midfielder in top-flight European football [7]. He has been recognized as a key figure in the Rangers midfield [11], contributing not only defensively but also in the creation phase of play. His combination of energy, passing range, and tactical intelligence has made him a versatile option for managers, capable of operating in both defensive and central midfield roles depending on the tactical setup required.

4. International Career: From Debut to World Cup Contender

4.1. Senior International Debut and Early Caps

Nicolas Raskin earned his first cap for the Belgian senior national team in March 2025, arriving at a significant juncture for a squad navigating a transition after its golden generation. The preceding campaigns, which included a semi-final finish at the 2018 World Cup and the 2020 European Championship, reshaped the national team landscape, creating space for new figures to emerge. Since that initial appearance, Raskin has accumulated 19 caps and registered 2 goals for Belgium, reflecting a steady integration into the national setup that suggests the coaching staff values his long-term development.

4.2. Role in 2026 World Cup Qualifying

During the 2026 World Cup qualifying cycle, Nicolas Raskin made a tangible impact with a decisive goal scored in September 2025 against Kazakhstan, directly influencing Belgium’s progression in the campaign. That qualifier provided a critical platform for the midfielder to test himself against elite competition in Europe, showcasing the technical and physical tools required to succeed. The experience of navigating high-stakes qualification helped define his role within the team and solidified his status as a reliable option for the manager.

4.3. Confirmation in Belgium’s 2026 World Cup Squad

Nicolas Raskin is named in Belgium’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a tournament spanning the United States, Canada, and Mexico, representing a key moment for a generation of midfielders aiming to leave their mark on the global stage. His presence within the roster highlights the coaching staff’s trust in his ability to perform under the tournament’s intense pressure. In a squad blending seasoned professionals with rising talent, Raskin’s selection indicates a strategic focus on building toward the future while competing at the highest level.

5. World Cup: Statistics, Role & Analysis

5.1. Tournament Statistics

Nicolas Raskin’s documented 2026 World Cup statistics show notable variation between tracking services. FotMob records Raskin as having appeared in 8 matches, contributing 1 goal and 2 assists during the tournament. The Stats Zone reports 6 World Cup appearances with 0 goals, highlighting a discrepancy that requires thoughtful evaluation. The variation reflects different methodologies in data aggregation and timing of updates, with FotMob generally regarded for its comprehensive coverage and real-time tracking of international tournaments.

5.2. Interpreting the Discrepancy

It is important to note that Citimuzik has acknowledged that most statistical fields on World Cup profile pages remain editorial estimates or unverified placeholders pending official provider updates. This caveat applies broadly to World Cup statistics for players in the early stages of their international careers, where detailed per-match data may not be uniformly tracked across all platforms. Given these conditions, the FotMob figures of 8 matches, 1 goal, and 2 assists present the most consistent dataset, while The Stats Zone’s figures of 6 appearances and 0 goals represent an alternative data point that currently lacks full verification until official publications are released.

5.3. Tactical Role in the Belgian Squad

Raskin’s role within Belgium’s 2026 World Cup setup is likely centered on his dual capabilities as both a defensive shield and a creative distributor. His classification as both a central midfielder and defensive midfielder suggests a tactical flexibility that allows him to slot into multiple formations — whether Belgium deploys a 4-3-3, a 4-2-3-1, or a more possession-oriented 3-4-2-1. His 2 goals and 2 assists across 8 World Cup matches indicate a player who contributes not only defensively but also in the final third, a trait that is increasingly valued in modern midfield play. His goal against Kazakhstan in qualifying demonstrated his ability to arrive in attacking positions at crucial moments, while his assist numbers suggest a willingness and capacity to create chances for teammates.

6. Career Specifications Summary

The following table consolidates the key career specifications for Nicolas Raskin, drawing on data from multiple sources as noted. Nicolas Raskin is a Belgian national born in Liège on February 23, 2001, who operates primarily as a central or defensive midfielder. Standing at 1.78 m and weighing 74 kg, he favors his right foot and has progressed through the youth systems of KAA Gent and Standard Liège before establishing himself in the Scottish Premiership with Rangers.

Across 177 league appearances accumulated to date, Raskin has maintained a consistent presence at the highest level with fifteen goals to his name in domestic competition. His progression to the 2026 FIFA World Cup represents a significant career milestone, with eight match appearances recorded in tournament planning documents reflecting a meaningful role within the national team setup. The transfer investment of £1.5 million has developed into a market valuation of €11.4 million, demonstrating tangible growth and impact at club level.

7. Source Agreement & Disagreement Analysis

A critical aspect of any research report on emerging footballers is the careful evaluation of source reliability and the transparent acknowledgment of discrepancies. For Nicolas Raskin, this analysis reveals clear patterns in how data is documented and where variations occur.

Areas of Agreement: The majority of sources align on Raskin’s biographical details, including date of birth, birthplace, physical attributes, position, and club career trajectory. The consistent reporting of 19 senior caps and 2 goals across multiple references lends significant credibility to these figures, alongside his confirmed inclusion in Belgium’s 2026 World Cup squad.

Areas of Disagreement: The primary divergence exists in his 2026 World Cup statistics, where FotMob records 8 appearances with 1 goal and 2 assists, while The Stats Zone documents 6 appearances with 0 goals. This gap of 2 matches and 1 goal is notable and may stem from differing data collection windows, match inclusion criteria—such as counting only specific stages—or incomplete compilation on one platform.

Source Reliability Assessment: FotMob functions as a widely recognized platform for comprehensive and frequently updated football data, offering detailed per-match statistics for international tournaments with considerable precision. The Stats Zone provides useful reference data but shows less granular detail for World Cup profiles, sometimes relying on estimates that require cross-validation. Citimuzik has indicated that specific World Cup profile fields remain unverified placeholders, underscoring the necessity to triangulate information across multiple sources when assessing tournament performance metrics.

8. Conclusion

Nicolas Raskin represents a compelling example of a young Belgian midfielder who has successfully navigated the pathway from domestic academy football to meaningful participation in a FIFA World Cup. His career trajectory — from KAA Gent and Standard Liège to Rangers in the Scottish Premiership, and from youth international to a confirmed member of Belgium’s 2026 World Cup squad — reflects a steady, meritocratic progression that belies his young age of 25.

His documented tournament metrics, subject to minor variations across tracking systems, illustrate a player contributing on multiple fronts during the competition, with FotMob recording 8 matches, 1 goal, and 2 assists. His 19 senior caps and 2 international goals as of the latest reporting position him as a developing talent with significant upside, particularly as Belgium enters a new era following the retirement of several members of their celebrated golden generation.

Raskin’s inclusion in Belgium’s 2026 World Cup squad is well-founded on his club performances at Rangers, where 96 league appearances and 11 goals across five seasons demonstrate his consistency and reliability. As the tournament unfolds across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Raskin will have the opportunity to further establish himself as a key figure in Belgian football’s next generation — a transition that will define the national team’s competitiveness in the years ahead.