Thomas Meunier praises Lille striker Matias fernandez-pardo

Belgian defender Thomas Meunier, now playing alongside Matias Fernandez-Pardo at Lille, lauded the young striker’s mentality and work ethic ahead of the World Cup, calling him “a real soldier” and suggesting he could become Belgium’s next surprise hero, reminiscent of Divock Origi’s 2014 impact.

In the 2014 World Cup, Divock Origi scored the decisive goal against Russia, securing a win for the Belgian side. His performance paved the way for a later top transfer to Liverpool.

Matias Fernandez-Pardo, a young forward at Lille, possesses an atypical profile that is not easy to defend against. Thomas Meunier warned that if Fernandez‑Pardo continues to develop, he is unlikely to remain at Lille.

“Matias is a real soldier,” Meunier said, emphasizing that the player receives nothing for free in football. He added that this mindset has earned Fernandez‑Pardo a place in the Belgian national squad.

Belgian coach Rudi Garcia noted that Fernandez‑Pardo has grown enormously since joining Lille. Garcia explained that limited playing time taught the striker that nothing is handed to him in his career.

“We hope that history repeats itself,” Garcia remarked when the comparison with Origi resurfaced. He linked Fernandez‑Pardo’s potential impact to the surprise heroics of the 2014 tournament.

Fernandez‑Pardo now sits in Belgium’s World Cup squad, ready to contribute on the global stage. If he continues to develop, he could achieve a similar impact to Origi’s 2014 performance for the Red Devils.