Credit: Manh Tung - Breaking Media

Samuel Fabre

Wed 1 April 2026 12:30, UK

Aston Villa star Youri Tielemans was excellent in Belgium’s 1-1 draw with Mexico on Tuesday.

The Belgian midfielder has endured an injury-hit season for Villa so far, with the midfielder sustaining calf and ankle issues in 2025-26.

However, Tielemans returned to first-team training in mid-March after a lengthy spell on the sidelines, and fans will be thrilled that their star midfielder can finally play a part again.

After playing 23 minutes in the 2-0 win over West Ham before the international break, the 28-year-old was called up to the Belgium squad for two friendlies.

Tielemans is such an important player for Unai Emery, and his performance in Belgium’s draw with Mexico was one that Villa fans can certainly feel pleased with.

Youri Tielemans shines in Mexico vs Belgium

With six goal involvements in 23 games for Villa this season, Tielemans has shone playing further forward as his career continues to progress.

And that was no different in Belgium’s draw with Mexico as he assisted Dodi Lukebakio’s equaliser in the 46th minute.

According to Sofascore, Tielemans won 83 per cent of his ground duels and 100 per cent of his aerial duels.

He also made eight passes into the final third and completed 67 per cent of his long balls to cap off an impressive performance.

And his display for Belgium mirrors exactly what we’ve seen for the Villans over the years.

In the Premier League this season, Tielemans created 1.84 per 90 minutes and a dribble success rate of 69.2 per cent.

His creativity in attacking midfield has been dearly missed, and with Villa competing in two different competitions, Emery will be desperate for the 29-year-old to maintain his fitness.

Why Tielemans’ return to fitness bodes well for Villa’s ambitions

Tielemans’ presence in the squad is vital to how Villa build up play from defence, and with games coming every three days at the moment, it’s imperative that he maintains a level of consistency.

Fans in B6 will feel thrilled that he is back in action, and with a pass accuracy of 84.6 per cent, he certainly keeps the play ticking in midfield.

Against West Ham, he won 100 per cent of his ground duels in a short cameo, but with Jadon Sancho now injured, that frees up a space for him to slot into the team.

His performance for Belgium was one that characterised his best attributes, and he is definitely considered one of their key players for the World Cup.

And while Tielemans has thrived on the international stage, it’s his exploits for Villa that could potentially make this a memorable season for the Villa Park faithful.