Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin has proven that club rivalries and competition for international places take a back seat when it comes to supporting his Belgium national teammates.

The 25-year-old Ibrox fan favourite has enjoyed a standout personal campaign in Glasgow, most recently grabbing headlines with a sensational “Ronaldoesque” knuckleball strike against Dundee, which earned high praise from broadcaster Peter Martin on PLZ Soccer.

Rangers star Nicolas Raskin sends message to Hans Vanaken after goal vs RC Lens

Club Brugge captain Hans Vanaken delivered a commanding performance to inspire the Belgian outfit to a memorable 3-0 European victory over RC Lens. The 34-year-old opened the scoring for the Belgian side at the end of the first half, before Joaquin Seys and Carlos Forbs added more in the second period.

Following the final whistle at the Jan Breydel Stadium, Vanaken posted a celebratory message on Instagram, captioning his photo: “Another magical night at Jan Breydel. What an atmosphere. We Are Bruges.”

Spotting his countryman’s post, Rangers star Raskin was quick to join in on the applause, sending a public one-word reply reading simply: “Maestro.”

Raskin and Vanaken share a long-standing connection through the Belgian national team setup. The duo have shared the pitch in 17 matches together for the Red Devils, including five appearances alongside one another during Belgium’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.

In recent months, debate has swirled across Belgian media regarding national team hierarchy under manager Mark van Bommel. With Vanaken among those competing directly for central midfield minutes alongside Raskin, there are suggestions the Rangers midfielder risked slipping down the pecking order.

However, Raskin’s warm social media interaction underlines the close camaraderie he maintains with his international colleagues regardless of selection pressure.

As Raskin continues to deliver star performances for Rangers domestically and in Europe, maintaining strong bonds with seasoned international leaders like Vanaken will only serve him well as he aims to cement his place in Belgium’s starting XI.