88 goals and counting: Romelu Lukaku closing in on footballing immortality | OneFootball

With every year that passes, Romelu Lukaku continues to build a lead at the top of the scoring charts for Belgian international players. While big Rom has been maligned at times by fans of certain club teams, there is no doubt that, at the international level, he is one of the greatest strikers of his generation. Not many players get to 88 goals for their country, and even if they do, very few do it in just 122 games.

Last night, it was Lukaku who saved Belgium. The striker grab two more goals to help his side overcome a first leg deficit in the Nations League clash with Ukraine. It is now just a matter of when, not if, Lukaku hits 100 goals for his country. Only three other players have done that, and two of them are names that should be put in the greatest of all time category. Lukaku would join Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and the Iranian legend Ali Daei.

What makes Lukaku’s numbers impressive is that he has also scored at major tournaments, not just in qualifying against sometimes smaller nations. Desipte being injured for the 2022 World Cup and struggling for form, he still has five goals in 12 games. At the Euro’s, he has six goals in 14 games.

When he finally hangs up his boots, Lukaku will be a legend of Belgian football. When he surpasses 100 goals, he will have to be considered a legend of international football as well.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson