Romelu Lukaku Prioritizes Fitness, Skips Belgium Friendlies Ahead of World Cup
Romelu Lukaku, Belgium’s all-time leading scorer with 89 goals, has opted to miss upcoming international friendlies to focus on achieving peak physical condition before the World Cup. The decision was announced by the Belgian Football Association on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
According to a statement released by the Belgian FA, Lukaku “prefers to train in the coming phase to further optimize his physical readiness.” This comes as the Napoli striker has been recovering from a hamstring injury and has seen limited playing time in Italy recently.
Recent International Performance
Lukaku’s last appearance for the Belgian national team was in June 2025, where he scored in a 4-3 victory against Wales during World Cup qualifying. Belgium secured their place in the World Cup after competing in Group G, alongside Egypt, New Zealand, and Iran.
Upcoming Friendlies
Belgium is scheduled to play friendly matches against the United States on Sunday, March 28, 2026, at 8:30 PM CEST, and against Mexico on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at 3:00 PM CEST. Lukaku will not participate in these matches, instead dedicating his time to individual training and rehabilitation.
Lukaku and Ronaldo: A Historical Context
Romelu Lukaku is the second-highest European goalscorer in international football, trailing only Cristiano Ronaldo, who currently holds the record with 111 goals OneFootball. In a 2021 press conference, Lukaku expressed his admiration for Ronaldo, stating he should not be compared to the Portuguese legend OneFootball.
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