Romelu Lukaku, a season in turmoil at Napoli, Belgium’s game-changer at the World Cup | OneFootball

Belgium’s record scorer Romelu Lukaku is operating as a super-sub after a punishing Napoli season of 64 minutes, two serious injuries and the loss of his father, yet he could still be decisive as Belgium meet Iran on Sunday at 21:00.

Working in Antwerp with long-time physio Lieven Maesschlack, he has accelerated his return. “With his will, experience and professionalism, his return was possible. After the first round, he will be at 100%,” Maesschlack told Le Soir on 4 June.

At Qatar 2022 he arrived injured, played only parts of Belgium’s last two group games and did not score, the 0-0 with Croatia sealing elimination. He returned more than a year later, scoring in a 2-0 win over Croatia on 2 June.

Against Egypt on 15 June he came on in the 66th minute and, 44 seconds later, forced defender Hany into an own goal as it finished 1-1.

He tore a hamstring on 14 August and, for Napoli, scored only once, against Verona in a 2-1 win on 28 February, five months after his father, 58, died.

A later psoas problem, found by his personal doctor, led to friction when he chose to recover in Belgium, angering Aurelio De Laurentiis. He returned to Italy to cool tensions, sought talks with Antonio Conte but was rebuffed, then trained with Anderlecht’s Futures.

After the 5-0 win over Tunisia on 6 June he described his presence as near-miraculous. He will play about 45 minutes against Iran, with Rudi Garcia saying he could start only in an emergency and would not go beyond the 60th, while Thomas Meunier highlighted his leadership.

Source: L'Équipe