The 19-year-old is set to be named in Roberto Martinez's squad for Qatar 2022 amid reports that Liverpool are interested in signing him.
Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois and maybe even Eden Hazard are set to be in Belgium's line-up at the 2022 World Cup, and yet it feels like the country's 'golden generation' has already missed its chance at winning a major tournament.
Despite sitting second in the world rankings ahead of their flight to Qatar, Roberto Martinez's side are not considered as being amongst the favourites, with many instead believing this to the first step on the national team's transition away from some of the country's greatest ever footballers.
Those who have thrilled the world over the past decade either already have faded away or are about to, leaving space for a new generation of players to take over.
One such player is Zeno Debast, but he might not have to wait until after the World Cup to begin proving himself at the highest level of the international game.
Regarded as a potential heir to Vincent Kompany's throne, the Anderlecht teenager is expected to be named in Belgium's squad in the coming days and perhaps even make it onto the pitch in the weeks that follow.
But what makes him so special? Let NXGN explain…
Where it all began
Born in Halle to a football-mad family, with both his parents playing to a decent level, Debast joined the Anderlecht academy at the age of six.
A boyhood fan of the Purple and White, Debast was often initially deployed as an attacking midfielder, not least because of his diminutive stature.
It was not until 2019, when Debast, in the midst of a growth spurt, was moved back into defence, and he has thrived there ever since.
He made his first-team debut for Anderlecht in May 2021, and followed that up with six further appearances over the next 12 months as Vincent Kompany slowly introduced him into the senior ranks.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe big break
Ironically, it was not until Kompany left in the summer of 2022 that Debast became a mainstay in the Anderlecht side, as new manager Felice Mazzu switched to a back three and asked the teenager to play on the right-hand side of his defence.
Debast immediately impressed, so much so that he was called-up to the Belgium squad for their Nations League clashes against Wales and the Netherlands in what was also their final tune-up before Martinez selects his squad for the World Cup.
With that in mind, it was surprising but also instructive to see Debast start both matches, and though he came in for some criticism for the role he played in Virgil van Dijk scoring the Dutch winner in his second game, his manager could not have been more impressed by his impact.
"This was one of the most impressive debuts in recent years for Belgium," Martinez said. "I enjoyed it. I saw a young guy with a lot of self-confidence, but also a lot of desire to learn."
Getty ImagesHow it's going
Despite Mazzu being sacked by Anderlecht in October after a disappointing start to the season, Debast has kept his place in the team, and has started all 16 of the club's league games so far in 2022-23.
Though his commitment to the cause has never been questioned, he further endeared himself to the club's fans following a recent defeat to Zulte Waregem, when he could be seen in floods of tears at full-time, so disappointed was he with the team's form.
Debast has not been to blame, however. He was hailed for his role in Anderlecht keeping their first clean sheet in the league since August during November's goalless draw with Royal Antwerp.
Biggest strengths
Perhaps unsurprisingly given his past life as a creative midfielder, the main strengths that Debast possesses lie in his ability on the ball.
He has a superb range of passing, and can regularly be seen pinging balls across the pitch in a bid to launch Anderlecht attacks.
He is also a confident dribbler, and more often than not finds himself carrying the ball over the halfway line and even into the final third when given space to drive forward by the opposition.
He's not afraid of showing off his skills, either…
At 6'2 (189cm), meanwhile, he is adept in the air and has shown enough in his short career to suggest that he is not shy of a tackle either.