Youri Tielemans
A Belgian midfield metronome known for his impeccable passing range who scored one of the most famous goals in his nation's football history.
Born 1997 (age 29)·Belgian footballer·Birthday: May 7·Generation Z
Biography
Youri Tielemans has been a professional footballer for so long that it's easy to forget he's still in his prime. Debuting for Anderlecht at just 16, he quickly became the engine of their midfield, displaying a maturity and technical security beyond his years. A big-money move to Monaco followed, but it was at Leicester City where he etched his name into folklore. His thunderous, long-range strike in the 2021 FA Cup Final against Chelsea secured the club's first-ever trophy in the competition, a moment of pure quality immortalized in highlight reels. A consistent, intelligent presence, Tielemans controls the tempo of games with his vision and precise distribution. After establishing himself as a key figure for the Belgian national team, earning the captain's armband, he brought his steadying influence to Aston Villa, where his experience aids their ambitions at the top of the English game.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Youri was born in 1997, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Youri Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
Youri's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored the winning goal for Leicester City in the 2021 FA Cup Final with a spectacular 25-yard strike.
- Became the youngest Belgian to ever play in the UEFA Champions League when he debuted for Anderlecht at age 16.
- Won the Belgian Pro League with Anderlecht in 2014 and the Belgian Super Cup in 2014.
- Named the Belgian Golden Shoe winner in 2017 as the best player in the country's top division.
Did You Know?
He is of Dutch descent through his mother and has a Dutch middle name, Marion.
He made his professional debut for Anderlecht on the same day he received his school exam results.
He played alongside his childhood idol, Vincent Kompany, for the Belgian national team.
His FA Cup final winning goal was voted the BBC's Goal of the Season for 2020-21.
“I keep the ball moving because the game demands it.”
