Must be a starter: Lukebakio gets blunt message as Benfica move fades | OneFootball

Dodi Lukebakio is starting to reap the rewards of 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 win over the United States in the round of 16, putting behind him a group stage that fell short of expectations.

The Belgian international started for the first time in the tournament against the American side and responded to the coaching staff’s trust in the best possible way. In the round of 32 against Senegal, he had already shown promising signs after coming on in the 64th minute and helping to 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 further raise the player’s level: "He was very good. He needs to be a starter in this team because he has the character the team needs. He is on the bench far too often and, because of that, he cannot be dominant. But if he starts, he will become even better and mentally stronger. Everything will become easier at that point," he told RTBF.

La Dernière Heure also highlighted the Benfica winger’s performance, giving him a score 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 inaccessible to 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.