Making his Belgium Under-19s debut filled Brentford Under-18s midfielder Luka Bentt with “massive pride” during the September international break.

The teenager earned his first call-up following a superb start to the 2025/26 season, which has seen him play exclusively with Sam Saunders’ B team and sign his first professional contract with the club.

A well-travelled individual despite just turning 18, Bentt has three choices when it comes to the international stage; Belgium, England and the USA, where he was born and raised.

It is the former of those that has always felt like home to Bentt as the country he has supported at major tournaments growing up and who he wants to represent on the biggest stage going forward.

“Belgium’s always been the country that I supported when it came to the World Cup and the Euros, so I felt massive pride playing for them,” explained Bentt.

“You feel like you’re representing everybody in the country and then you’re representing yourself after.

“Obviously, it was the first time I’ve been called into an international setting, so everything was new to me, I didn’t know any of the players, but from the moment I got there, they made me feel welcome. I thought it was amazing.”

Bentt and his team-mates played in two friendlies against Austria and Wales, games they won 2-1 and 3-1 respectively.

The side will contest further friendlies during the October international break, before qualifiers for next summer’s U19 Euros begin in November.

The impressive win over Wales held extra significance for Bentt, the midfielder firing home an impressive solo goal to help lead Belgium to a win. To do so in front of his parents meant the world to him.

“I received the ball just inside my own half and then I just started driving forward. I didn’t have the goal set in my mind immediately, but I just kept on dribbling,” the teenager continued.

“The space just opened up, I found myself on the edge of the box and I was like, ‘I have to shoot now,’ and the ball went right into the bottom corner. For a second, everything didn’t feel real, I felt light in the moment, I didn’t have any thoughts or anything.

“Then I looked straight at my parents and that moment when I saw them after the goal, I’ll never forget that.”

His form for Belgium is reflective of his club performances at the start of the season. The midfielder has featured prominently for Brentford Under-21s, following on from 19 appearances for the Under-18s last season where he scored three goals and contributed two assists.

Despite his positive start to the campaign, Bentt is under no illusions that football is a rollercoaster journey, something he has lived following a trial period in the 2023/24 season and an injury-riddled 2024/25 campaign.

“It’s been up and down since that trip to Spain [while on trial], it hasn’t been a direct line to the B team and I didn’t have all these opportunities immediately,” said Bentt.

“I feel like it’s a result of the hard work and the consistency over the past decade, ever since I started playing, not just the work that’s been done since I’ve joined Brentford.

“The confidence comes from doing the right things every single day. I’ve built a very good routine, I feel like every single day I’m pushing to be one per cent better than the day before and just competing against myself.

“I feel like that mindset has grown my confidence from within, rather than my confidence being dependant on praise from others.”

Bentt has joined fellow scholars Michel Boni and Otis Honor in featuring prominently for the B team this season, following on from the trio’s inaugural campaign at Jersey Road last term.

Rising through the ranks together has been an enjoyable experience.

“It’s very fun being on the training pitch with them because we’re going through the same thing every single day and we can share this experience together,” he added.

“I feel like the chemistry between us makes it better than it being a solo journey.”

Saunders has provided strong leadership to help lead the young Bees, the new head coach starting his tenure in promising fashion since stepping up from assistant coach to replace Neil MacFarlane.

“He’s very supportive. I feel like his values and what he wants to see on the pitch, it aligns with what I want to do, so it works hand-in-hand,” said Bentt.

Looking ahead, Bentt has clear goals on the pitch.

“On the international level I want to qualify for the Euros and eventually win it,” he states.

“On the personal level I want to make my debut for this club.”