Top 5 Moments Of Kevin De Bruyne’s Career
When Kevin De Bruyne finally walks away from Manchester City, we’ll all look back and ask: How lucky were we to witness that brilliance? The Belgian maestro didn’t just play midfield, he owned it. It is safe to say that the 34-year-old is alongside Frank Lampard, Paul Scholes, and Steven Gerrard.
Whether he was slicing defenses with passes nobody else saw or stepping up in the most significant moments, De Bruyne built a career of “wow” moments that fans won’t forget. So, let’s review five of his greatest hits. The ones that turned him from just another talented player into a modern-day football and Manchester City icon.
1. That Final-Day Magic In 2018
Back in May 2018, City were already champions. They’d cruised through the league, but one record was still within reach: Becoming the first Premier League team to hit 100 points in a single season. The clock was ticking at St. Mary’s against Southampton. It was the 94th minute.
Everyone figured it was ending in a draw. Not Kevin. From deep in midfield, he saw a run no one else even thought to look for. One touch, one looping pass over the top, and Gabriel Jesus was through. Goal, 100 points, and history made. That moment summed up KDB: vision, execution, and a flair for the dramatic. He didn’t just want to win. He wanted to win his way and set records.
2. A Night at the Bernabéu
The Santiago Bernabéu is where legends are made, or broken. In 2020, Real Madrid were still the kings of Europe. But on that February night, De Bruyne stole the show. He bossed that midfield like it was his backyard. First, a pinpoint cross to Gabriel Jesus to level the score. Then, cool as ice, he slotted home the penalty that gave City a 2–1 win in the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie at the Bernabeu. That is something very few teams can claim.
It wasn’t just the numbers. It was the way he carried himself, his dominance over Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, two of the best midfielders of the era, was staggering. While some players shrink in moments like that, De Bruyne seemed to grow. The Bernabéu didn’t intimidate him. If anything, it brought out his best.
3. The Four-Goal Explosion vs Wolves
If you’re trying to explain to someone why De Bruyne is special, just pull up the Wolves game from May 2022. City were in a neck-and-neck title race with Liverpool. No room for slip-ups. De Bruyne responded by dropping one of the best individual performances the Premier League has ever seen.
Four goals. 24 minutes. A perfect hat-trick… all with his left foot. He didn’t just score, he destroyed. Long-range blasts, slaloming runs, precise finishes. It looked like he played FIFA on beginner mode while everyone else was stuck on legendary. It wasn’t just a win. It was a statement. This is my league.
4. Breaking the PSG Barrier
Before City became European giants, they were dreamers. In 2016, they faced PSG in the Champions League quarterfinals. Big names, big money, big expectations. In the second leg at the Etihad, with everything on the line, De Bruyne wrote his first truly iconic City moment.
With 15 minutes left, he picked up the ball outside the box and curled a gorgeous shot into the corner. Game over. City were in their first-ever Champions League semi-final. That night changed the way people talked about City in Europe. It was all thanks to the Belgian in the No. 17 shirt. Just the type of clutch City needed.
5. The Comeback That Won a Title
This one still gives City fans goosebumps. Much similar to the Amazing Aguero moment. Final day of the 2021-22 season. City needs a win to keep the title. But with 20 minutes left, they’re 2–0 down to Aston Villa. The Etihad was dead silent, and the title was headed towards Anfield. Then De Bruyne flipped the switch. First, he picks up the ball near the sideline and drives forward, threading the assist that sets up Ilkay Gündoğan’s winner. Three goals in five chaotic minutes. Title secured.
The celebration? Pure emotion. KDB was on his knees, roaring to the sky, as the crowd exploded. That moment was about more than just a pass. It was leadership. Grit. Belief. Clutch as anything. De Bruyne showed, once again, that when City need someone to drag them out of the fire, he’s the guy.
The Legacy
Stats will tell one part of De Bruyne’s story. But to understand his legacy, you must look at the moments. The passes that made your jaw drop. The goals that came out of nowhere. The games where he simply took over. He’s been the engine, the artist, and the assassin, sometimes all in the same 90 minutes.
While Manchester City has had plenty of greats during their golden era, there’s only been one De Bruyne. Some would argue he still could’ve had a year or two of world-class football left in him at City, but the Belgian has nothing to prove. He’s done it all.
