Lukaku and the post-surname is Bolingoli. In this congolese mention, the surname isand the post-surname is Romelu Menama Lukaku Bolingoli ( dutch pronunciation : [ ˈroːmeːlu luˈkaːku ] ; born 13 May 1993 ) is a belgian professional football player who plays as a striker for Premier League club Chelsea and the Belgium national team.
Reading: Romelu Lukaku – Wikipedia
Lukaku began his senior club career play for Anderlecht, where he won a belgian Pro League title and finished as the league ‘s exceed goalscorer. In 2011, he joined Chelsea in a transfer worth £10 million ( €12 million ), but limited toy clock resulted in loans to West Bromwich Albion and Everton ; in 2014, Lukaku signed with Everton in a then club-record transfer worth £28 million ( €32 million ), going onto coating as the league ‘s second-top goalscorer. He subsequently signed with Manchester United in a transfer worth £75 million ( €88 million ), but after a dislocation in relations with the cabaret, Lukaku departed for Inter Milan in 2019 in a club-record batch worth €80 million ( £68.1 million ), and won a Serie A title and Serie A Most Valuable Player. In 2021, Lukaku returned to Chelsea in a club-record transfer worth £97.5 million ( €115 million ), becoming the seventh-most expensive actor, the most expensive Belgian player, and the most expensive actor with reference to cumulative transfer fees. Belgium ‘s all-time crown goalscorer, Lukaku made his senior external debut in 2010, and has represented his state at four major tournaments : the 2016 and 2020 UEFA European Championships and the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups ; he finished as joint second-highest goalscorer won the Bronze Boot in the latter .
Club career
early career
Lukaku joined his local team Rupel Boom at age five. After four seasons at Rupel Boom, Lukaku was discovered by scouts of Lierse, a belgian Pro League club with an established youth academy. He played for Lierse from 2004 until 2006, scoring 121 goals in 68 matches. [ 4 ] After Lierse were relegated from the belgian Pro League, Anderlecht purchased 13 young players from Lierse in the 2006 mid-season, including Lukaku. He played three more years as a youth player with Anderlecht, scoring 131 goals in 93 matches. [ 5 ]
Anderlecht
When Lukaku turned 16 on 13 May 2009, he signed a professional compress with Anderlecht lasting until 2012. [ 6 ] Eleven days late, he made his belgian First Division debut on 24 May 2009 in the backing play-off match against Standard Liège as a 69th-minute alternate for defender Víctor Bernárdez. [ 7 ] Anderlecht lost the match 1–0. Lukaku became a regular penis of Anderlecht ‘s beginning team during the 2009–10 season, scoring his inaugural goal at senior level against Zulte Waregem in the 89th minute after coming on as utility for Kanu on 28 August 2009. “ After scoring I dived into a sea of happiness, ” he told Berend Scholten from UEFA.com. “ You think you are flying and can take on the whole world. ” [ 8 ] He ended the season as the exceed goalscorer in the Pro League with 15 goals as Anderlecht won its thirtieth belgian deed. [ 9 ] He besides scored four goals during the cabaret ‘s rivulet to the end 16 of the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League. [ 9 ] During the 2010–11 season, Lukaku scored 20 goals in all competitions, but Anderlecht failed to retain their league title despite finishing top of the table during the regular season. [ 10 ]
Chelsea
Lukaku warming up for Chelsea in 2013
transfer
In August 2011, Lukaku joined Premier League golf club Chelsea on a five-year sign for a fee reported to be around €12 million ( £10 million ), rising to €20 million ( £17 million ) in add-ons. [ 11 ]
2011–12 : debut season
Lukaku made his introduction at Stamford Bridge in a 3–1 victory over Norwich City in the 83rd moment, coming on as a substitute for Fernando Torres. [ 12 ] Lukaku made his first gear originate for Chelsea in the League Cup against Fulham. Chelsea went on to win the match on penalties. He spent the majority of the season play for the reserves and started his first base Premier League match on 13 May 2012, against Blackburn Rovers, and turned in a world of the catch performance, providing an aid for John Terry ‘s undoer. [ 13 ] however, Lukaku stressed he was disappointed with his involvement at the end of his debut season, revealing that, after his side ‘s UEFA Champions League winnings in the concluding on 19 May, he refused to hold the trophy, explaining “ it was n’t me, but my team that won ”. [ 14 ]
2012–13 season : loanword to West Bromwich Albion
After guess linking Lukaku to a lend act to Fulham, [ 15 ] on 10 August 2012, he joined West Bromwich Albion on a season-long loanword conduct. [ 16 ] He scored his first league goal eight days late, coming on as a substitute in the 77th moment in a 3–0 win against Liverpool. [ 17 ] He made his full debut in a acquire against Reading at The Hawthorns, scoring the peer ‘s only goal. [ 18 ] On 24 November, Lukaku came on as a 70th-minute utility for Shane Long and netted a penalty and provided an assist to Marc-Antoine Fortuné, as West Brom defeated Sunderland 4–2 away at the Stadium of Light. [ 19 ] The gain proved to be West Brom ‘s one-fourth back-to-back win in the top flight for the beginning time since 1980. [ 20 ] On 12 January 2013, Lukaku had his beginning multi-goal game in the Premier League, giving West Brom a 2–0 lead against Reading, before a former rejoinder gave the Berkshire club a 3–2 victory at the Madejski Stadium. [ 21 ] In the face of claims he wanted to stay with West Brom for another year, Lukaku confirmed to the press he still wished to become a caption at Stamford Bridge. [ 22 ] On 11 February, Lukaku came on as a stand-in and scored his tenth Premier League finish of the season against Liverpool in a equal that ended 2–0. [ 23 ] He scored his second brace of the campaign, scoring both goals for West Brom in their 2–1 home kill of Sunderland on 23 February. [ 24 ] On 9 March, in a league match against Swansea City, Lukaku scored the equalising goal before having a punishment complain saved ; West Brom finally won the game courtesy of a Jonathan de Guzmán own finish. [ 25 ] On 19 May, coming on as a second-half substitute, Lukaku scored a remarkable second-half perfect hat-trick, as West Brom came from three goals down to draw 5–5 in the temper ‘s final home match against Manchester United. [ 26 ] The match was Alex Ferguson ‘s 1,500th and last catch in charge of United, and the highest-scoring draw in the history of the Premier League. [ 27 ] Despite being loaned out by the club, Lukaku outscored all of his Chelsea teammates in the Premier League that season, being the sixth-highest goal scorer of the 2012–13 season with 17 goals. [ 28 ] Lukaku played two Premier League matches for Chelsea at the begin of the 2013–14 season. He besides came on as a stand-in in the 2013 UEFA Super Cup, ultimately missing the deciding penalty in the gunfight as Manuel Neuer saved his snapshot and Chelsea lost to Bayern Munich. [ 29 ]
2013–14 temper : lend to Everton
Lukaku pre-match with Everton in 2014 On the final sidereal day of the summer 2013 transfer window, Lukaku joined Everton on a season-long loanword. [ 30 ] The striker made his début for the Toffees away to West Ham United on 21 September 2013, scoring the winning finish in a 3–2 victory for Everton. During the header, he had a collision with a West Ham defender and was taken off the sales talk for some treatment. The physio had to tell him he had scored the achiever. [ 31 ] He scored doubly on his home plate introduction nine days subsequently in a 3–2 succeed against Newcastle United, adenine good assisting Ross Barkley ‘s finish. [ 32 ] He then opened the score in a 3–1 frustration to Manchester City in the adopt match. [ 33 ] He continued his impressive start at the cabaret by netting the open goal in a 2–0 gain over Aston Villa, and then scored twice in the first gear Merseyside bowler hat of the season as Everton drew 3–3 against Liverpool, with Lukaku stating afterwards it was the best experience he has had in his light career. [ 34 ] [ 35 ] In January 2014, Lukaku was named by The Guardian as one of the ten most bright young players in Europe, [ 36 ] but late in the month was taken off on a stretcher with an ankle ligament damage after Gareth Barry slipped and slid into the hitter as he attempted to block Steven Gerrard ‘s opening goal in the Merseyside bowler hat against Liverpool. [ 37 ] [ 38 ] Lukaku made his return from injury against West Ham in March 2014, scoring the only goal of the match on the 81st moment after coming on as a second-half substitute. [ 39 ] On 6 April, he scored one goal and assisted another as Everton beat arsenal 3–0 at Goodison Park to record a sixth back-to-back Premier League gain. [ 40 ] His concluding finish for the loanword period came on the last day of the season as he scored the second in a 2–0 succeed over Hull City. [ 41 ] Lukaku found the net 15 times in 31 league matches to help Everton to fifth position with a cabaret phonograph record of 72 Premier League points. [ 42 ]
Everton
2014–16 : upgrade to stardom
Lukaku playing for Everton in 2015 Lukaku signed a five-year shrink with Everton in July 2014 for a club record tip of £28 million. [ 43 ] He scored his first goal as a permanent player on 13 September, against his erstwhile baseball club West Brom. Lukaku did not celebrate the goal, and was applauded by the West Brom fans for his sign of the zodiac of respect. On 19 February 2015, Lukaku scored his first Everton hat-trick in a 4–1 win for Everton against BSC Young Boys in the UEFA Europa League last 32 ; he struck with a header, a right-foot nip and a left-foot shoot. [ 44 ] He added another two goals in a 3–1 acquire in the second stage a week late. [ 45 ] With eight goals, he was the tournament ‘s joint highest scorer that season, aboard Alan of Red Bull Salzburg. [ 46 ] In the moment crippled of the 2015–16 Premier League temper, Lukaku scored a first-half double in Everton ‘s 3–0 win at Southampton on 15 August 2015 with his first two shots on target. Before the match, he presented a jersey to a home plate winnow whom he had incidentally struck with the ball during shooting practice. [ 47 ] On 26 August, he scored another brace in a 5–3 extra-time gain over League One side Barnsley in the League Cup. [ 48 ] On 28 September, Lukaku scored doubly and assisted the early against West Brom as he managed to guide his team from losing 2–0 to winning 2–3. [ 49 ] He scored against Liverpool the following week in a 1–1 draw at Goodison Park. [ 50 ] On 21 November, Lukaku scored doubly in a 4–0 gain over Aston Villa, becoming the one-fifth player under 23 years of long time to score at least 50 Premier League goals, after Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo. [ 51 ] On 7 December, Lukaku scored a close-range finish in a 1–1 reap against Crystal Palace, his 50th in 100 appearances in all competitions for Everton. [ 52 ] On 12 December, Lukaku became the first Everton actor to score in six back-to-back Premier League matches, and the first to score in seven consecutive matches in all competitions since Bob Latchford 40 years previously, when he opened the score in the Toffees’ 1–1 draw with Norwich City at Carrow Road. [ 53 ] In his adjacent match, a 3–2 get the better of to Leicester City, Lukaku became the beginning Everton musician since Dave Hickson in 1954 to score in eight consecutive matches. [ 54 ] On 6 February 2016, Lukaku scored his twentieth goal of the season in a 3–0 victory at Stoke City, meaning he was the beginning Everton player since Graeme Sharp to score at least 20 goals in all competitions in consecutive seasons for Everton. The strike was besides his 16th league goal of the season, equalling Premier League goal grade records for Everton set by Tony Cottee and Andrei Kanchelskis in the mid-1990s. [ 55 ] Lukaku followed this goal with another strike in a 2–0 victory at AFC Bournemouth ‘s Dean Court for his 21st goal of the temper. This victory sent Everton into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, [ 56 ] and equalled the number of goals scored in all competitions by Yakubu for Everton in the 2007–08 season, the previous best in the Premier League era. [ 57 ] On 1 March, Lukaku scored in a 3–1 victory against Aston Villa at Villa Park, his 17th league finish of the season, a Premier League-era record for Everton. [ 58 ] The goal besides meant Lukaku had equalled his former best finish return in a league season, set during his loan spell at West Brom in the 2012–13 season. [ 59 ]
2016–17 : Sustained individual success
Lukaku with Everton in 2017 On 12 September 2016, Lukaku scored his first gear goals of the 2016–17 season with all three goals in a 3–0 against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. His goals were scored in 11 minutes and 37 seconds, making it the 12th-fastest hat-trick in Premier League history. [ 60 ] On 4 February 2017, Lukaku scored four goals, the first of which was Everton ‘s fastest always Premier League goal, against Bournemouth in a 6–3 victory at Goodison Park. [ 61 ] It was besides the three-hundredth hat-trick scored in the Premier League. [ 62 ] On 25 February 2017, he equalled Duncan Ferguson ‘s clubhouse criminal record for Premier League goals, scoring his sixtieth EPL goal for the Toffees in a 2–0 victory over Sunderland at Goodison Park. [ 63 ] On 5 March, he surpassed Ferguson to become the instantaneously read holder, scoring in a 3–2 loss against Tottenham Hotspur away at White Hart Lane. [ 64 ] In the following match, a 3–0 home acquire against West Brom, Lukaku scored to become the first Everton musician since Bob Latchford to score 20 or more goals in all competitions for three straight seasons. [ 65 ] A workweek late, during a 4–0 victory over Hull City, he scored doubly to take his league goals match to 21 for the temper, thereby becoming the inaugural Everton player since Gary Lineker 31 years previously to surpass 20 league goals in a season, angstrom well as being the fourthly player and first alien actor to score 80 Premier League goals before the age of 24. [ 66 ] In March 2017, Lukaku turned down a new five-year contract worth a report £140,000 a workweek amidst rumor of a return to Chelsea. [ 67 ] In an interview, he questioned the club ‘s ambition to make boastful transfers and chase Champions League reservation, offending his coach Ronald Koeman. [ 68 ] A finish in a 3–1 win for Everton against Burnley on 15 April meant Lukaku was the first Everton musician since Bob Latchford to score 25 goals in two back-to-back seasons in all competitions, and the first player since the legendary Dixie Dean to score in nine consecutive matches at Goodison Park. [ 69 ] On 20 April 2017, Lukaku was named in the PFA Team of the year for the first time. [ 70 ] He was besides included in the six actor shortlists for the PFA Players ‘ Player of the class and PFA Young Player of the year awards. [ 71 ] [ 72 ]
manchester United
transfer
Lukaku joined Manchester United on 10 July 2017, signing a five-year contract with the choice of a further year. [ 73 ] Although the tip was officially undisclosed, it was reported to be worth an initial £75 million, plus £15 million in add-ons. [ 74 ] Thus, he became a teammate with his french-speaking close friend Paul Pogba. [ 75 ] Lukaku ‘s sign came a day after former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney left the clubhouse to return to Everton, Rooney ‘s boyhood baseball club. [ 76 ]
2017–18 temper : Debut temper and passing in shape
Lukaku made his debut against Real Madrid on 8 August in the 2017 UEFA Super Cup, and scored his first competitive goal for the club in a 2–1 kill. [ 77 ] His league introduction came five days late at home to West Ham. Lukaku scored twice in a 4–0 winnings, [ 78 ] becoming the fourthly Manchester United player to score two goals on his Premier League introduction for the club. [ 79 ] On 12 September, he scored his first UEFA Champions League finish in a 3–0 win over FC Basel. [ 80 ] On 17 September, Lukaku scored United ‘s third base goal in a 4–0 win over his early club Everton, with Lukaku running over towards Everton fans and cupping his ears during his goal celebration in answer to being booed throughout the game. [ 81 ] On 27 September, Lukaku scored twice in a 4–1 acquire over CSKA Moscow, taking his total to 10 goals in his first base nine appearances. In doing therefore, he broke the read set by Bobby Charlton who had scored nine goals in his first nine appearances for the club. [ 82 ] In a 2–1 win over his erstwhile club Chelsea on 25 February 2018, Lukaku scored the equalizer and then assisted Jesse Lingard ‘s game-winning goal. [ 83 ] He scored his two-hundredth goal for club and country on 13 March in a 2–1 away kill to Sevilla that eliminated Manchester United from the Champions League in the round of 16. [ 84 ] On 31 March 2018, Lukaku scored to open a 2–0 home win over Swansea. It was his hundredth Premier League goal in his 216th crippled, and made him the fifth young of the 28 players to reach the match. [ 85 ]
2018–19 season
Lukaku started the 2018–19 season with four goals in his first five appearances, including a brace against Burnley, before a 12-game drought lasting from 19 September to 27 November 2018. Goals against Southampton and Fulham followed before the net of coach José Mourinho, only for Mourinho ‘s substitution – former United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjær – to leave Lukaku out of the police squad entirely for his first gear two games in charge against Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town. Lukaku made ersatz appearances in United ‘s following two games against Bournemouth [ 86 ] and Newcastle United, [ 87 ] score in both matches within two minutes of coming on. He then played the entire 90 minutes of the FA Cup third round tie against Reading, scoring the second goal in a 2–0 win. [ 88 ] however, Solskjær continued to prefer to start Marcus Rashford up front and Lukaku started just five of the next nine games, playing the wide 90 minutes in precisely two and failing to score in any of them. His goalscoring form returned for the next three games, as he scored braces against each of Crystal Palace, [ 89 ] Southampton [ 90 ] and Paris Saint-Germain. The goals against PSG were part of a 3–1 winnings that saw United through to the Champions League quarter-finals on the away goals rule, the first meter any team had progressed after losing at home in the first leg by two goals or more. [ 91 ] however, United were eliminated by Barcelona in the quarterfinals 4–0 on sum. [ 92 ]
Inter Milan
2019–20 season : club record transplant
Lukaku joined italian club Inter Milan on 8 August 2019, signing a five-year narrow for a tip reported to be a club criminal record €80 million. [ 93 ] [ 94 ] [ 95 ] He late mentioned the reasons for leaving Manchester United, by claiming that he was made a scapegoat alongside other players such as Paul Pogba and Alexis Sánchez, in accession to club ‘s failure to protect him against rumor about his future. [ 96 ] Lukaku made his debut for Inter Milan on 26 August in the open Serie A matchday against Lecce, netting his slope ‘s third goal with his first base shooting in a 4–0 home acquire. [ 97 ] The goal meant that Lukaku has found the net in his first league game for five of the six clubs he has represented ; Anderlecht, West Brom, Everton, Manchester United, and Inter ; [ 98 ] he besides become only the third belgian to score for Inter in Serie A, after Enzo Scifo and Radja Nainggolan. [ 99 ] In the club ‘s second league game of the temper at Cagliari on 1 September, Lukaku scored the match-winning finish from the penalty spotlight to give Inter a 2–1 victory away from home ; however, he was subject to racial maltreatment from some of the Cagliari fans. [ 100 ] In the foremost months since his arrival, Lukaku formed an attacking partnership with Argentine child Lautaro Martínez, dubbed “ Lu-La ” by italian media. [ 101 ] [ 102 ] [ 103 ] This became after the couple scored a brace each in the 4–3 away win against Sassuolo in October, giving Inter the first exuberate since 2016. [ 104 ] On 2 November, Lukaku scored a couple in a 2–1 away win over Bologna in Serie A, which saw him match Ronaldo ‘s record of nine goals in his first base 11 league appearances for the club. [ 105 ] On 27 November, Lukaku scored his foremost UEFA Champions League goal for Inter in a 3–1 away win against Slavia Prague in the group stage ; in summation to that, he besides assisted the two other goals scored by Lautaro Martínez and had two goals disallowed himself. [ 106 ] In the concluding match home against Barcelona, Lukaku scored his side ‘s only goal in a 2–1 kill, meaning that Inter was transferred to Europa League for the second temper in a row. [ 107 ] He begun the new year on 6 January by scoring a brace in a 3–1 win against Napoli, giving Inter the first base league succeed at Stadio San Paolo since October 1997 ; [ 108 ] he earned praise from the media for his first finish scored in the 14th hour, which came from an individual attempt. [ 109 ] On 9 February, Lukaku scored the final finish of the 4–2 home win over crosstown rivals Milan, sending Inter to the top of the table and giving them another double over Milan ; it was besides his 17th league goal of the season. [ 110 ]
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On 25 July, Lukaku scored a brace in a 3–0 win at Genoa ; in doing indeed, he became the first Inter musician since István Nyers in 1949–50 temper to score 15 away goals in a Serie A season, and the first do to so in his debut season. [ 111 ] [ 112 ] He concluded his foremost Serie A season with 23 goals, as Inter finished runner-up by just one orient to Juventus in the standings ; only Ronaldo ( 25 ) and Nyers ( 26 ) have scored more than him in their introduction season at Inter. [ 113 ] On 5 August, Lukaku scored in a 2–0 succeed over Getafe in the Europa League ‘s cycle of 16, helping his side reach the quarter-finals of a european contest for the inaugural meter since 2011. [ 114 ] It was his thirtieth goal in all competitions, a modern personal best, and he had besides scored for the 8th straight Europa League match, equalling the all-time record set by Alan Shearer in 2004–05. [ 115 ] [ 116 ] In the quarter-finals on 10 August, he broke the record, scoring in his ninth consecutive match in the rival in a 2–1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in Düsseldorf, to send Inter into the semi-finals. [ 117 ] On 17 August, Lukaku scored a brace in a 5–0 winnings against Shakhtar Donetsk —his one-tenth consecutive couple in the competition—as Inter reached the final. [ 118 ] In the concluding, he earned and scored a penalty in the fifth hour, but besides scored an own goal in the 74th infinitesimal, which was finally the fetching goal for Sevilla in a 3–2 frustration. [ 119 ] Lukaku equalled Ronaldo ‘s record in 1997–98 season, by scoring 34 goals in all competitions. [ 120 ]
2020–21 season : Serie A champion
On 21 October 2020, Lukaku scored a brace in a 2–2 reap against Borussia Mönchengladbach in the beginning couple of the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League. [ 121 ] On 1 December, he scored another brace against Borussia Mönchengladbach to secure a 3–2 away win. [ 122 ] however, Inter drew their last match against Shakhtar Donetsk, to finish final in their group and to be eliminated from all european competitions. [ 123 ] On 3 January 2021, Lukaku scored a goal in a 6–2 succeed over Crotone, to reach his fiftieth goal across all competitions in alone 70 matches, breaking the former record of Ronaldo who scored 50 goals in 77 matches. [ 124 ] On 26 January, Lukaku was involved in a confrontation with former Manchester United teammate Zlatan Ibrahimović in Inter ‘s Coppa Italia quarter-final equal against Milan. Following a fetid committed by Lukaku late in the first half, he and Ibrahimović could be heard exchanging insults as the pair clashed heads and had to be restrained by their respective teammates. Both players were booked as their arguments continued into the tunnel at half-time. Ibrahimović would be sent off during the moment half following a second yellow for a dirty on Aleksandar Kolarov, as Inter went on to record a 2–1 victory. [ 125 ]
Lukaku playing for Chelsea in 2021 On 14 February, he scored a brace and got an serve against Lazio in a 3–1 victory, bringing his Serie A tally to 16 goals for the season and equalling Cristiano Ronaldo as the league ‘s top scorer. Lukaku ‘s second base goal was besides the 300th of his professional career. [ 126 ] Inter won the 2020–21 Serie A for the first base time since the 2009–10 season. [ 127 ] Lukaku finished the season 2020–21 with 24 league goals, 11 assists. Making him the highest scorer on the title-winning team and the moment highest-scorer in the league, behind Ronaldo. [ 128 ]
restitution to Chelsea
2021–22 season
On 12 August 2021, Lukaku returned to his early cabaret Chelsea, a ten after he had originally joined the club, for a reported club record fee of £97.5 million. [ 129 ] [ 130 ] In making the move, Lukaku became the most expensive player of all fourth dimension with accumulative transfer fees of about £285 million, surpassing Neymar. [ 131 ] Lukaku admitted in an consultation that he did request Inter Milan to reach to an agreement with Chelsea submit, “ I did n’t want to go behind Inter ‘s second. They got me out of the damn. I was in a deep hole at Manchester United. After training I went to [ principal coach Simone ] Inzaghi ‘s function. I did n’t want to ruin the air because I was no longer with my head in Milan. So I asked him : Please find an agreement. ” [ 132 ] On 22 August 2021, Lukaku scored on his come back introduction in the 15th moment, converting Reece James ‘ cross, in a 2–0 away win over Arsenal. [ 133 ] On 12 September, Lukaku scored twice at home against Aston Villa, the foremost clock time he had scored at Stamford Bridge. [ 134 ] Two days late, Lukaku scored his foremost european goal for Chelsea, against Zenit in the Champions League. [ 135 ] On 8 October 2021, Lukaku was one of five Chelsea players included in the final 30-man shortlist for the 2021 Ballon d’Or. [ 136 ]
International career
Lukaku with Belgium in 2013 Lukaku was a member of the Belgium under-21 team and scored a goal on his debut against Slovenia. On 24 February 2010, Lukaku was named for the first time in the Belgium senior squad for a friendly against Croatia. [ 137 ] On 17 November 2010, he scored his first gear two international goals in a friendly against Russia. [ 138 ] Lukaku scored his first goal in about two years for the home team, netting the winner in a 4–2 friendly victory over rivals the Netherlands on 15 August 2012. [ 139 ] On 11 October 2013, Lukaku scored two goals as Belgium defeated Croatia 2–1 to secure a place in the World Cup finals. [ 140 ] In May 2014, Lukaku was named in Belgium ‘s squad for the 2014 World Cup. On 26 May, he scored his first international hat-trick in a pre-tournament friendly against neighbouring Luxembourg. [ 141 ] however, as Belgium made seven substitutions during this match rather of the allow six, it was not recognised as an official match by FIFA. [ 142 ] On 1 June, he scored first of Belgium ‘s two goals in the 2–0 victory in a friendly against Sweden. [ 143 ] In Belgium ‘s first match of the tournament, a 2–1 acquire against Algeria in Belo Horizonte, Lukaku started and played 58 minutes before being replaced by Divock Origi. [ 144 ] In the cycle of 16, Lukaku came on as a substitute prior to extra prison term and assist Kevin De Bruyne ‘s afford goal three minutes late. In the 105th minute, he scored his first goal of the tournament as Belgium defeated the United States 2–1. [ 145 ]
Lukaku playing for Belgium in 2021 On 29 March 2016, Lukaku headed a consolation in a 2–1 personnel casualty aside to Portugal, assisted by his brother, Jordan Lukaku. [ 146 ] At UEFA Euro 2016, Lukaku scored doubly in Belgium ‘s 3–0 moment group stage match win on 18 June 2016 over the Republic of Ireland. [ 147 ] On 10 November 2017, Lukaku equalled the all-time Belgium goalscoring criminal record set by Bernard Voorhoof and Paul Van Himst after scoring twice against Mexico in a 3–3 draw. [ 148 ] Four days after he equalled the read, Lukaku became Belgium ‘s all-time record goalscorer with 31 external goals at the old age of 24 after he scored the merely goal in a 1–0 win over Japan. [ 149 ] Although this record was counted by the Royal Belgian Football Association, [ 150 ] FIFA merely officially recognised 28 goals after a invalidate international friendly against Luxembourg on 26 May 2014 which he netted a hat whoremaster in a 5–1 win because the former Belgium coach, Marc Wilmots made seven substitutions during the match alternatively of the permitted six which are not in accord to the Laws of the Game. [ 151 ] [ 152 ]
On 6 June 2018, Lukaku formally became Belgium ‘s all-time lead scorer with 31 goals after scoring a goal in a 3–0 winnings over Egypt. He besides broke a tripartite tie with the previous read goalscorers, Bernard Voorhoof and Paul Van Himst. [ 153 ] On 18 June, Lukaku scored twice in a 3–0 acquire over Panama in their opening group game at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. [ 154 ] In the following group game on 23 June 2018, he scored doubly again in a 5–2 winnings over Tunisia. [ 155 ] In doing sol, Lukaku became the inaugural musician since Diego Maradona in 1986 to score two goals or more in straight World Cup matches. [ 156 ] He finally ended the tournament with four goals and one assist, which earned him the Bronze Boot award, as Belgium finished the tournament in third locate. [ 157 ] On 10 October 2019, Lukaku scored his fiftieth and 51st external goals in a 9–0 home succeed over San Marino, in a Euro 2020 modifier. [ 158 ] On 12 June 2021, Lukaku scored doubly in Belgium ‘s opening group match of UEFA Euro 2020, a 3–0 acquire over Russia. [ 159 ] On 21 June, he scored the concluding finish in a 2–0 acquire over Finland in his team ‘s final group match. [ 160 ] On 2 July, he scored Belgium ‘s only finish of the equal from a penalty late in the inaugural half in a 2–1 frustration to Italy in the quarter-finals of the competition. [ 161 ] Two days after the final Lukaku was awarded as lone Belgian player with a choice for the UEFA Euro 2020 Team of the Tournament. He got the striker military position. [ 162 ] Lukaku made his hundredth Belgium appearance on 5 September 2021 against the Czech Republic, scoring his 67th goal in the process. [ 163 ]
style of gambling
Lukaku is a left-footed player, [ 164 ] who in 2014 was named by The Guardian as one of the ten most predict young players in Europe. A large and physically knock-down striker from an early age, with an eye for goal, Lukaku has been known to use his animalism to get around defenders. [ 9 ] [ 36 ] however, despite his size, potency, physical build, and ability to hold-up play with his back to finish, his favor character is not as a target-man in the center, but as an absolute striker or poacher ; due to his tactical versatility, he is besides capable of playing as a winger. [ 165 ] A all-around forward, who is besides strong in the air, beyond his physical qualities and goalscoring ability, he possesses footstep, athleticism, awareness, good link-up fun, technical attributes, and vision, american samoa good as an ability to get into good attacking positions or create space for teammates with his intelligent runs off the ball. [ 166 ] Although he was once criticised by pundits for his limit defensive contribution, he has since been praised by his managers for his work-rate off the ball. [ 167 ] however, despite his ability, he has besides come into criticism in the media at times over his campaign and first base touch. [ 168 ] [ 169 ] [ 170 ] [ 171 ]
Influences
In a 2016 consultation with ESPN, Lukaku named Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka as the two strikers who made him want to play for Chelsea, but it was the mention of a third striker during the consultation, his idol Ronaldo, that lit him up with exhilaration, with Lukaku submit ,
“ Ronaldo changed football. He was the one you would look at. You would see him doing step-overs and you were thinking : ‘Who does this ? ‘ You would see defenders falling over and you were like : ‘Wow. ‘ The goals that he scored, and at crucial times. He scored goals where you were like : ‘Oh man, this is not serious. ‘ ”Lukaku speaking to ESPN on his idol, Ronaldo.[172]
Crediting the former brazilian striker as his major influence as a child, Lukaku added, “ He changed the dimension of a striker. He was fast, he can dribble like a winger, run like a sprinter, he was equally strong as an ox ”. [ 172 ] When mentioned that he shares certain characteristics with the brazilian, Lukaku responded, “ Be like Ronaldo ? There is lone one Ronaldo ”. [ 172 ]
personal life
Lukaku was born in Antwerp, Belgium [ 173 ] to congolese parents. [ 174 ] His don, Roger Lukaku, [ 175 ] played professional football and was capped at external level by Zaire. [ 176 ] He has a younger brother named Jordan, who has progressed through the youth academy at Anderlecht [ 175 ] and presently plays for Royal Antwerp in Belgium. [ 177 ] His cousin Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo plays as a left-sided winger or defender for Celtic. [ 178 ] Lukaku was the subjugate of a television objective series called De School Van Lukaku ( Lukaku ‘s School ) shown on the Dutch-speaking Eén network. The reality show followed the adolescent Lukaku and his classmates during the class of a year at the Saint-Guidon Institute, a school in Brussels, where the football player was based while with the Anderlecht youth team. [ 179 ] In 2009, the series followed the school as it made a field slip to London, visiting Chelsea ‘s Stamford Bridge land. Lukaku said at the time, “ What a stadium. If one day in my biography I will cry, it will be the day I play here. I love Chelsea. ” [ 180 ] In addition to his native french and Dutch, Lukaku can speak eloquent English, Portuguese, Italian, Spanish and a congolese Swahili dialect, and can besides sympathize German. [ 181 ] Lukaku has stated his biggest idol was Didier Drogba. [ 182 ] Lukaku is a practising Roman Catholic, praying frequently before or after matches. He made the pilgrimage to Lourdes in 2014. [ 183 ] He is dry. [ 184 ]
Media and endorsements
Lukaku was the inaugural Premier League actor to join Jay-Z ‘s management agency Roc Nation Sports. [ 185 ] In 2018, he signed a record sponsorship manage with german sportswear company Puma, the company ‘s largest endorsement hand always. [ 186 ]
activism
Lukaku has spoken out against racism he suffered while playing football, particularly the 2019–20 Serie A season, his inaugural year bring in Italy. [ 187 ] In 2020, Lukaku honoured George Floyd by kneeling and keeping one fist high in support of Black Lives Matter when he scored in a game with Inter against Sampdoria. [ 188 ] This symbolic action was inspired by American football actor Colin Kaepernick who kneeled during the national hymn before every game in 2016 as a peaceful manner of protest against police brutality towards people of color. Since then, Lukaku and many other players in Europe has taken an active function to take a stifle on the pitches. In 2021, Lukaku said he ‘s fighting “ against all forms of discrimination, whether religious, linked to skin color, [ or ] sexual ”. [ 189 ]
career statistics
cabaret
- As of match played 11 December 2021
International
- As of match played 7 October 2021[202]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium[N1] | 2010 | 8 | 2 |
| 2011 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 8 | 2 | |
| 2014 | 11 | 6 | |
| 2015 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 14 | 11 | |
| 2017 | 9 | 9 | |
| 2018 | 14 | 14 | |
| 2019 | 5 | 7 | |
| 2020 | 5 | 5 | |
| 2021 | 12 | 11 | |
| Total | 101 | 68 | |
Honours
Anderlecht
Inter Milan
Belgium
Individual
Notes
- ^[223][224][225][226] Lukaku caps against Romania on 14 November 2012, against Luxembourg ( included his hat-trick goals ) on 26 May 2014 and against Czech Republic on 5 June 2017 were counted by RBFA, but not formally recognised by FIFA due to an excessive total of substitutions that violated the Laws of the Game .