Bernard Voorhoof


Bernard Voorhoof was a Belgian footballer, who held the title of the Belgium national team's top scorer for 34 years, netting 30 goals in 61 matches. In 1972, he was joined by Paul Van Himst, who took 81 matches to reach the same goal tally. However, both have since been surpassed by Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard.

Career

Voorhoof commenced his career at Lierse, remaining with the club for an impressive 21 years. During his tenure, he remarkably scored 350 goals across 529 matches and secured two Belgian First Division titles. Additionally, in the shortened 1940−41 season, he contributed to a third unofficial title. Before retiring at the age of 39 in 1949, he also spent a season with RRFC Montegnée.
He was part of Belgium's team at the 1928 Summer Olympics, but did not play in any matches. Voorhoof played in the 1930, 1934 and 1938 World Cups, being one of six known people to have appeared in all three of the pre-war World Cups. At the 1934 World Cup held in Italy, Voorhoof scored twice in Belgium's 5−2 defeat to Germany. These were the first Belgian goals in a FIFA World Cup, as the Belgium national team failed to find the net in 1930.
He held the Belgian caps record from 5 May 1938 until 13 April 1958, when his total was surpassed by Vic Mees. He held the Belgian record of goals since 13 March 1938, when he equalled the total of Robert De Veen, until Paul Van Himst equalled his tally of 30 international goals for Belgium on 17 June 1972. Romelu Lukaku broke their record in November 2017.

Career statistics

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes, France1–03–2Friendly
2Olympisch Stadion, Antwerp, Belgium1–13–1Friendly
3Stade du Pont d'Ougrée, Ougrée, Belgium1–01–2Friendly
4Bosuilstadion, Antwerp, Belgium2–32–3Friendly
5Stade Buffalo, Paris, France2–12–2Friendly
6Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam, Netherlands2–32–3Friendly
7Bosuilstadion, Antwerp, Belgium1–14–2Friendly
8Bosuilstadion, Antwerp, Belgium2–14–2Friendly
9King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium2–02–1Friendly
10King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium1–12–3Friendly
11King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium2–12–3Friendly
12Letzigrund, Zürich, Switzerland2–23–3Friendly
13Letzigrund, Zürich, Switzerland3–33–3Friendly
14Olympisch Stadion, Antwerp, Belgium2–12–1Friendly
15Praterstadion, Vienna, Austria1–01–4Friendly
16King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium1–12–3Friendly
17Olympisch Stadion, Antwerp, Belgium1–03-9Friendly
18Bosuilstadion, Antwerp, Belgium2–32–41934 FIFA World Cup qualification
19Stadio Giovanni Berta, Florence, Italy1–15–21934 FIFA World Cup
20Stadio Giovanni Berta, Florence, Italy2–15–21934 FIFA World Cup
21Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam, Netherlands2–02–4Friendly
22King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium1–21–2Friendly
23Stadionul Republicii, Bucharest, Romania1–21–2Friendly
24Parc des Princes, Paris, France2–13–5Friendly
25De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands2–42–7Friendly
26Stade Municipal, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg1–13–21938 FIFA World Cup qualification
27Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne, Switzerland1–03–0Friendly
28Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne, Switzerland2–03–0Friendly
29Stade Vélodrome de Rocourt, Liège, Belgium1–11–2Friendly
30Bosuilstadion, Antwerp, Belgium2–07–1Friendly

Honours

Lierse
Records
  • Former Belgium's most capped player: 1938–1958
  • Former Belgium's national record goalscorer: 1940–2017