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Premier League has the most international players in Europe

By Jocelyn Taub

Paul Pogba during the UEFA EURO semi final match between Germany and France at Stade Velodrome on July 7, 2016 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Foto Olimpik/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Paul Pogba during the UEFA EURO semi final match between Germany and France at Stade Velodrome on July 7, 2016 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Foto Olimpik/NurPhoto via Getty Images) /
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SALVADOR, BRAZIL - JULY 01: Romelu Lukaku of Belgium celebrates scoring his team's second goal with Kevin De Bruyne during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Round of 16 match between Belgium and the United States at Arena Fonte Nova on July 1, 2014 in Salvador, Brazil. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
SALVADOR, BRAZIL – JULY 01: Romelu Lukaku of Belgium celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with Kevin De Bruyne during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Round of 16 match between Belgium and the United States at Arena Fonte Nova on July 1, 2014 in Salvador, Brazil. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

4. Belgium

Belgian soccer has grown significantly within the past decade. Back in 2009 Belgium was the 71st ranked nation by FIFA. As of this writing, they are ranked second sandwiched between Argentina and Chile respectively.

Some speculate that the national team’s current success is due to the fact that Belgian clubs have been investing more in grass-roots development. Belgium’s top football tier, the Jupiler Pro League, does not have the ability to compete with the more financially lucrative European leagues. Therefore, the most talented players from the small country generally leave to play their football elsewhere on the continent.

Twenty Belgians currently play in the EPL. National team goalkeeper Thibault Courtois is at Chelsea while his backup Simon Mignolet is with Liverpool.

Attacking midfielder Kevin De Bruyne stars for Manchester City while the combative Marouane Fellaini is currently with Manchester United.

Other notable players include Mousa Dembele of Tottenham, Eden Hazard of Chelsea, Christian Benteke of Crystal Palace, Divock Origi of Liverpool and Everton striker Romelu Lukaku.

Next: Holland

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