Croatia vs Belgium: Lukaku Sends FIFA World Cup Warning After Reaching Stunning 90-Goal Milestone

Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku delivered a strong reminder of his importance before the FIFA World Cup after scoring his landmark 90th goal of his country’s 2-0 victory over Croatia in a World Cup warm-up fixture. The goal marked Lukaku’s return to international football after a year away from the national team setup.

For many months, people were worried about Romelu Lukaku before Belgium's World Cup campaign. He had scored only one goal this season for Napoli and had not played since March because of muscle injuries. Even many football experts questioned whether Lukaku was ready, but fans still remembered the last World Cup meeting against Croatia, where emotions ran high, and hoped things would be different this time. As Belgium arrived in Rijeka, all eyes were on Lukaku and his comeback.

One thing football fans know about Lukaku is that he always brings something special when he plays for Belgium. Since the 2022 World Cup, he has scored 17 goals in just 11 matches for his country.

Belgium started the game strongly against Croatia in Rijeka. Both teams used similar tactics, but Belgium looked more dangerous and smarter in their attacks. It took the lead in the 38th minute when Youri Tielemans scored after good work from Maxim De Cuyper. Croatia tried to fight back in the second half, but Belgium defended well. Midfielder Amadou Onana had an excellent game and controlled the middle of the pitch. Then came the moment everyone was waiting for.

Lukaku came on with 17 minutes left. Deep into injury time, he ran onto a pass from Hans Vanaken and scored Belgium’s second goal. After the match, Tielemans said: "This is ideal for Romelu, but also ideal for the team,"

Sportscape feels that Romelu Lukaku’s goal against Croatia meant more than reaching 90 international goals, it gave Belgium confidence before the World Cup. After months of questions about his fitness and match readiness, Lukaku showed again why he remains as a key player for the national team. Belgium also showed strong team balance, with players like Amadou Onana and Youri Tielemans making important contributions. The match showed Belgium’s experience, organization, and attacking strength at the right time. For Croatia, the game showed positives in build-up play but also areas to improve before tournament football begins