Romelu Lukaku reminded the football world of his enduring importance to Belgium after inspiring his side’s comeback in their 1-1 draw against Egypt at the FIFA World Cup, capping a remarkable response to one of the most challenging periods of his career.
The veteran striker arrived in North America carrying the weight of a difficult season marked by injury setbacks, personal loss and limited playing time at Napoli.
A pre-season injury sidelined the Belgian forward for months, while the death of his father added emotional pain to an already frustrating campaign.
When he eventually scored his only goal of the season against Hellas Verona in February, the tears that followed revealed the burden he had been carrying.
Yet even after returning to action, Lukaku struggled to establish rhythm and fitness, ending the campaign with just 64 minutes of football for Napoli.
Those circumstances led many to question whether the 33-year-old could make a meaningful impact at the World Cup.
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia, however, never lost faith.
The striker had already offered a glimpse of what he could provide by scoring in a warm-up match against Croatia despite spending only a short period on the pitch.
That belief was rewarded during Belgium’s Group G opener against Egypt.
With Belgium trailing 1-0 and struggling to find a breakthrough, Garcia introduced Lukaku midway through the second half.
Just 20 seconds after entering the contest, the striker attacked a dangerous cross from Thomas Meunier, forcing defender Mohamed Hany into an own goal that rescued a point for the Red Devils.
Although the equaliser was officially credited as an own goal, Lukaku’s influence was undeniable.
“He is not ready yet to start a game,” Garcia said after the match.
”We did not even expect to have him with us at this tournament. Sixty-four minutes over an entire season is hardly ideal preparation for a World Cup. It is fantastic to have him back, but his body still needs to adapt to the demands of competition.
“He could even have ended up with a brace with that header, but I am delighted for him, and the whole squad feels the same way. Lukaku is hugely important to us.”
Before the tournament, Kevin De Bruyne had predicted that Lukaku possessed the quality to change a game within minutes, and the midfielder pointed to that influence again after the draw.
“We were not at our best in the first half, but we found different ways to hurt them after the break. Even if it went down as an own goal, Romelu’s presence was vital. We know how dangerous he can be for our opponent’s defence. If we look at the other matches at this World Cup, though, nothing can be taken for granted and no game is easy.”
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois also praised the striker’s contribution while highlighting the impact made by Belgium’s substitutes.
“We know how good Romelu is. The coach often tells us that players coming off the bench can make the difference too, not just those who start the match, and that is exactly what he – and the other substitutes – did.”
Belgium captain Youri Tielemans echoed those sentiments, stressing that Lukaku remains central to the team’s ambitions despite still working his way back to peak condition.
“Romelu still needs to regain full fitness, which is normal after such a difficult season. But we know he is fundamental to this team.”
For Lukaku, the equaliser against Egypt may not have erased the pain of the past year, but it served as another reminder of his enduring value.
After months of setbacks, heartbreak and uncertainty, Belgium’s record goalscorer once again delivered when his country needed him most.
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