Has to start: frozen out by Benfica, Lukebakio gets warning | OneFootball

Dodi Lukebakio is beginning to reap the rewards of his patience after two strong performances for Belgium at the 2026 World Cup. The Benfica winger was one of the players most praised by the Belgian press after the victory over the United States in the round of 16, leaving behind a group stage that had fallen short of expectations.

He responded in the best possible way to the coaching staff’s trust. Already in the round of 32, against Senegal, he had shown promising signs when he came on in the 64th minute and helped change the course of the match.

Nordin Jbari, a former Belgium international, believes that Lukebakio should earn a permanent place in Belgium’s starting eleven, believing that continuity could raise the player’s level even further: “He was very good. He needs to be a starter in this team because he has the character the team needs. He is a substitute far too often and, because of that, he cannot dominate. But if he becomes a starter, he will become even better and mentally stronger. Everything will become easier at that point,” he told RTBF.

La Dernière Heure also highlighted the performance of the Benfica winger, giving him a rating of 8.5 on a scale from zero to 10. Only Charles De Ketelaere, who scored two goals and provided an assist, received a higher rating: “A tremendous first half, during which he made the ball unreachable for the Americans,” the publication wrote in its player ratings.

In its analysis of the match, the Belgian daily also underlined Lukebakio’s defensive contribution: “On the right, Lukebakio, playing on his weaker side, had important defensive responsibilities. Up against a Pulisic who was constantly looking for central areas, he took on the American with his stronger foot. The partnership he formed with Castagne worked very well,” the newspaper noted.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.