Rangers: Nicolas Raskin has never lost when starting for Belgium, Arne Engels has never won
Rangers star Nicolas Raskin continues to outshine Arne Engels, now on the international stage.
The Ibrox midfielder has been a mainstay in Govan ever since his reported £1.5million move from Standard Liege in January 2023.
In over three years, the midfielder has clocked up 141 appearances and has become a regular in the Belgium senior squad.
The same can’t be said about Celtic’s record signing, who has received increasingly mixed reviews since his Parkhead switch in the summer of 2024.
Raskin continues to show his best for Rangers and Belgium, with his international record dwarfing that of his Old Firm rival and country teammate.
⚽Rangers match day ⚽
Team news, line-ups, expert previews and tactical analysis for every Rangers fixture.
Nico Raskin has a stellar record with Belgium
There is something about the diminutive Gers star that makes him extremely effective in the middle of the park going forward and back.
His aerial threat is a surprise element to his game and helps add to his goal tally, while he also acts as an extremely combative midfielder in a defensive sense.
| Stat (Scottish Premiership 25-26) | Nicolas Raskin |
| Appearances | 29 |
| Goal involvements | 10 |
| Chances created | 40 |
| Duels won | 185 |
| Tackles | 69 |
Roberto Martinez and now Rudi Garcia have called him up as part of their national team squads and not just as a bit-part player.
Raskin has started eight games on the international stage and is yet to taste defeat in any of those fixtures, in a record stretching over 12 months.
His most recent start came against the USA on Saturday, as the Red Devils sealed an easy 5-2 win at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The Govan star featured for 70 minutes in Atlanta before being replaced by Axel Witsel with his side already 4-1 up.
Raskin put in a positive shift for Belgium against America, all while Engels sat at home and watched on from Parkhead.
Arne Engels Belgium record pales in comparison to Rangers star Raskin
The Ibrox ace may have never lost when starting a game for his country, but the Celtic midfielder can’t say the same thing.
He has made just four appearances for the Red Devils, with two of those coming off the bench, consisting of just 25 minutes combined.
His other two outings were starts, but in both, his side fell to 1-0 defeats against Italy and Israel.
Engels will surely be watching Raskin and wondering how he can get to a point where he becomes a consistently useful asset to Belgium.
Considering Celtic paid £11m for him, nearly £10m more than Raskin cost Rangers, the Parkhead faithful should expect more.
Don’t Miss a Beat: Your Rangers Insider Access
Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.