Bernard Voorhoof (10 May 1910 – 18 February 1974) 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 (five players and one match official) to have appeared in all three of the pre-war World Cups.The other people were players Edmond Delfour, Étienne Mattler, Nicolae Kovács and Patesko, and referee Jean Langenus, according to official FIFA match reports. Patesko, however, is not listed in many sources as part of the 1930 Brazilian squad, shortening the list to four players. 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 (when he equalled the total of Armand Swartenbroeks) 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 Scores and results list Belgium's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Voorhoof goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Bernard VoorhoofNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1Stade Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes, France1–03–2Friendly2Olympisch Stadion, Antwerp, Belgium1–13–1Friendly3Stade du Pont d'Ougrée, Ougrée, Belgium1–01–2Friendly4Bosuilstadion, Antwerp, Belgium2–32–3Friendly5Stade Buffalo, Paris, France2–12–2Friendly6Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam, Netherlands2–32–3Friendly7Bosuilstadion, Antwerp, Belgium 1–14–2Friendly82–19King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium2–02–1Friendly10King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium 1–12–3Friendly112–112Letzigrund, Zürich, Switzerland2–23–3Friendly133–314Olympisch Stadion, Antwerp, Belgium 2–12–1Friendly15Praterstadion, Vienna, Austria1–01–4Friendly16King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium 1–12–3Friendly17Olympisch Stadion, Antwerp, Belgium 1–03-9Friendly18Bosuilstadion, Antwerp, Belgium 2–32–41934 FIFA World Cup qualification19Stadio Giovanni Berta, Florence, Italy1–15–21934 FIFA World Cup202–121Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam, Netherlands 2–02–4Friendly22King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium 1–21–2Friendly23Stadionul Republicii, Bucharest, Romania1–21–2Friendly24Parc des Princes, Paris, France2–13–5Friendly25De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands2–42–7Friendly26Stade Municipal, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg1–13–21938 FIFA World Cup qualification27Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne, Switzerland1–03–0Friendly282–029Stade Vélodrome de Rocourt, Liège, Belgium1–11–2Friendly30Bosuilstadion, Antwerp, Belgium 2–07–1Friendly
Honours Lierse Belgian First Division: 1931–32, 1939–40, 1940–41, 1941–42
Records Former Belgium's most capped player: 1938–1958 (61 caps) Former Belgium's national record goalscorer: 1940–2017 (30 goals)
References
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