Lukaku makes World Cup history following goal against USA
Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku has set multiple records, continuing his impressive scoring streak at the 2026 World Cup.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0 / Author: محمد امین انصاری
Belgium forward Romelu Lukaku has etched his name into football history after scoring in the 2026 World Cup Round of 16 match against the USA. This goal marked his eighth strike in World Cup history, reinforcing his status as a prolific tournament performer.
Lukaku is now the first Belgian player to score at least three goals in two separate World Cup tournaments. After netting four times in the 2018 edition, he has already recorded three goals in the current tournament. Notably, the USA was the first opponent he scored against in World Cup competition back in 2014, making his eighth goal a symbolic full-circle moment.
Furthermore, Lukaku has achieved a unique feat: he is the first player in World Cup history to score in four different matches after starting from the bench. This record includes his appearances against the USA in 2014, as well as New Zealand, Senegal, and the USA in the 2026 campaign. His clinical efficiency is highlighted by the fact that in his last three World Cup appearances, he has managed only one shot on target per game, all of which resulted in goals.
With 93 international goals, Lukaku currently ranks fifth among the highest scorers in the history of national teams, trailing only Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Ali Daei, and Sunil Chhetri.