François Van der Elst (1 December 1954 – 11 January 2017) was a Belgian footballer, who played as a winger.

Despite being drafted in different positions (forward, right winger or full-back), he would go on to total 82 Belgian Pro League goals, surpassing 100 overall.

In 1976, he was part of the 1975–76 European Cup Winners' Cup-winning squad, netting twice in the final against West Ham United (4–2) and, in the following season's league, was crowned the competition's top scorer at 21 goals as the Brussels side finished in second position.

[4] Van der Elst earned 44 caps and netted 14 goals for Belgium, helping the nation to the second place in the UEFA Euro 1980 tournament.

On New Year's Day 2017, Van der Elst suffered heart failure and was placed in an induced coma in intensive care.