Kevin de Bruyne said he "didn't know why" he was named man of the match after Belgium's laboured 1-0 win over Canada in their Qatar 2022 World Cup opener on Wednesday night.
Belgium got their campaign off to a winning start at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium but were hardly convincing, with Canada - returning to the World Cup for the first time since 1986 - dominating their heavily-favoured opponents in the first half, during which Alphonso Davies had a penalty saved by Thibaut Courtois.
Michy Batshuayi struck shortly before the break to give Belgium the lead and the striker's goal ultimately proved the difference in a game that saw Canada have 22 total shots on goal compared to Belgium's nine.
Consistently a central figure in Manchester City wins, De Bruyne was largely a peripheral presence on Wednesday but was still named man of the match.
"I don't think I played a great game. I don't know why I got the trophy. Maybe it's because of the name," De Bruyne said. "We didn't play well enough as a team, we didn't find any solutions and we started really bad.
"In the second half, when we started to get through their pressing there was more space but I don't think we played a good game today, me included, but at least we found a way to win."
The outcome could have been much different and Canada looked poised to join the likes to Saudi Arabia and Japan in causing a giant upset after a superb first-half performance, but they too many wasted chances in front of goal.
Despite the disappointment of defeat, Canada manager John Herdman said his team's display proves they can compete against the world's best teams.
"They showed tonight that they do belong here. It's been a long time since we've been back," an upbeat Herdman told a news conference.
"With a performance like this, I said to the players" 'we just get on to the next task.' I'm proud of what they did, really proud. They proved they can play here."
Belgium are next in action against Morocco on Sunday, when Canada take on 2018 runners-up Croatia.
Belgium v Canada player ratings
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BELGIUM RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois, 9: Showed why he’s the best in the world when he kept his side on terms after a frantic opening 10 minutes ended with the goalkeeper palming away Davies's penalty. Later displayed strong wrists to beat away Johnston’s vicious drive and looked unbeatable. EPA -
Leander Dendoncker, 6: Conceded a cheap corner after finding himself penned in by Hoilett. Survived a booking for rather cynically dragging back his man to halt a Canada counter before it had really started and glanced a half-chance over the bar at the other end. AP -
Toby Alderweireld, 6: Thankful to see his attempted clearance bounce out for a goal kick under pressure from Johnston. Given an earful by De Bruyne for hoofing the ball straight to Borjan, but assisted the opener with virtually his next touch, albeit fortuitously. AFP -
Jan Vertonghen, 6: Another experienced head in Belgium’s back three, but you wouldn’t have known one bit in the first half as the men in Red were all over the place. Showed his quality after the break, undoubtedly helped by some tired legs. EPA -
Timothy Castagne, 7: Given a torrid time by the energetic Canadian attack, although he might well have struck at the other end if not for a last-ditch intervention from Davies. Looked more and more comfortable as the game progressed. EPA -
Youri Tielemans, 6: Had Canada in trouble for the first time when he got himself into a great position on the edge, but De Bruyne opted to look for Carrasco instead. Withdrawn at the interval. AP -
Axel Witsel, 5: Summed up a pretty calamitous first half from Belgium when he tangled legs with the unrelenting Laryea, but the Red devils survived the VAR check. You felt that had it been given it wouldn’t have been overturned. AP -
Yannick Carrasco, 5: Booked for getting his arm in the way of Buchanan’s effort, and the price might have been even greater had Courtois not come to the rescue from the resulting penalty. AP -
Kevin de Bruyne, 5: Not his night. Failed to pick out a teammate as he uncharacteristically rushed his pass, which was also the wrong one, under pressure following a burst forward. Nutmegged by Eustaquio which summed up his evening. AFP -
Eden Hazard, 7: Barely involved for the best part of 23 minutes, although his first contribution saw him pull the ball back into a great area with white shirts scrambling. Didn’t see too much of the ball, but provided some much-needed composure. AP -
Michy Batshuayi, 7: Had an early opportunity to drive at the Canada defence but his deflected effort was easily saved. Opened the scoring against the run of play when he ruthlessly hammered beyond Borjan, but squandered some big chances. AP -
SUBS: Thomas Meunier (on for Tielemans, 45'), 5: Booked for a reckless elbow barely eight minutes after coming on. AFP -
Amadou Onana (on for Carrasco, 45'), 5: His first involvement was a poor one as his diagonal cross floated straight out for a goal kick, although you could see what he was trying to do. Followed Meunier into the book for another throw of an arm. AFP -
Leandro Trossard (on for Hazard, 62'), 6: The Brighton man is in the form of his life and had Canada shirts back peddling at speed, but he just about ran out of room at the byline. Clipped painfully by Davies who saw yellow. EPA -
Lois Openda (on for Batshuayi, 78'), NR: Hacked down blatantly by Johnston after a rapid burst upfield that saw the latter booked, and the punishment may even have been harsher on another day. EPA -
CANADA RATINGS: Milan Borjan, 6: Grateful to see Batshuayi’s early attempt loop into his arms but otherwise didn’t have much to do in either half, but he was beaten all ends up by Batshuayi’s clinical strike. Getty -
Alistair Johnston, 7: Gave the ball away cheaply as Canada got off to a dreadful start, but he responded with an immense show of character and picked out Hoilett with a beautiful ‘quarter-back’ style delivery that took nine Belgium shirts out of the game. AFP -
Steven Vitoria, 6: Had virtually nothing to do in the first half, but when he did he failed to deal with Alderweireld’s hopeful punt forward and he was punished by Batshuayi. No nonsense next time around as he thumped a loose ball into the stands. AP -
Kamal Miller, 8: Snatched away a huge chance from Batshuayi with a pivotal block on the slide at the back stick and he rescued the situation again, this time cutting out De Bruyne’s pass intended for the same man. AFP -
Junior Hoilett, 7: Fizzed in a low cross that was beaten away as the underdogs started positively and continued to put deliveries into good areas. Snatched at his best opportunity when he dragged wide of Courtois’ right-hand post, but played with plenty of intensity. AP -
Atiba Hutchinson, 7: Spread the ball out to the flanks nicely, but the 39-year-old’s hopeful strike drifted harmlessly wide of goal after the ball presented itself nicely. He was replaced in the second half, but no real shock there given the quick turnaround in games. Getty -
Stephen Eustaquio, 7: Had De Bruyne rooted when he poked the ball through the passing maestro’s legs before putting an inviting cross into the box that was headed wide by David. Denied Belgium the chance to counter with another excellent sliding challenge. Getty -
Richie Laryea, 8: Skipped past challenges for fun on the left and delivered some wicked crosses. Caused all kinds of problems and terrorised the aging legs of Alderweireld and Vertonghen, and still showed bags of desire to charge back and deny Batshuayi. AFP -
Tajon Buchanan, 7: Gave his side a huge opportunity to take the lead when his effort on the spin struck the arm of Carrasco. Battled for everything in a tireless performance and got into all of the right positions, but he just couldn’t find the finish Canada craved. Getty -
Alphonso Davies, 7: Canada’s poster boy won his race to be fit in time to feature, but he couldn’t beat Courtois from 12 yards as his tame spot-kick was pushed away to safety. He produced a couple of brilliant runs, but he couldn’t force a way through. PA -
Jonathan David, 6: Skewed his first effort so far wide that the officials assumed his strike had gone for a corner. He was a constant menace, but he just couldn’t hit the target and saw a selfish effort blocked when he simply had to find Laryea who was unmarked. AFP -
SUBS: Sam Adekugbe (on for Laryea, 74'), NR: Replaced the impressive Laryea who appeared to be struggling. Reuters -
Ismael Kone (on for Hutchinsons, 58'), 6: Provided some fresh legs in midfield and produced a nice twist and turn before feeding Johnston on the inside as Canada pushed for a late leveller. AFP -
Jonathan Osorio (on for Eustaqio, 81'), NR: Had little chance to make an impact given his late introduction. Getty -
Liam Millar (on for Buchanan, 81') NR: Didn’t have too much time to make an impact but still managed to ask a couple of questions and saw his cross nodded over by Larin. Getty
