Romelu Lukaku's determination to overcome a string of injuries has earned him a spot on Belgium's World Cup squad, announced Friday, marking the Napoli striker's fourth appearance at the tournament. Despite a season plagued by fitness setbacks—limiting him to just five Serie A games—Lukaku's perseverance has paid off, and he joins an elite group of Belgian veterans set to make history in Qatar.
Alongside Lukaku, midfield maestro Kevin de Bruyne and Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois are also preparing for their fourth World Cup campaigns. Together, these three stalwarts bring a wealth of experience: Lukaku has 124 caps for the Red Devils, de Bruyne 117, and Courtois 107. They're all chasing the record of 37-year-old defensive midfielder Axel Witsel, who leads the pack with 136 appearances and is heading into his fourth tournament as well.
Lukaku's road to the squad has been anything but smooth. He hasn't played for Belgium in nearly a year since scoring against Wales in World Cup qualifying last June, and injuries forced him to withdraw from the team's recent March and April friendlies. Courtois, too, has battled injury concerns—his last national team appearance was in October—but his stellar form for Real Madrid this season made his inclusion a no-brainer.
Up front, Belgium will lean on Premier League firepower from Arsenal's Leandro Trossard and Manchester City's Jérémy Doku, adding pace and creativity to the attack. However, there's no place for 17-year-old midfield sensation Nathan de Cat, who would have been one of the tournament's youngest players after making his debut in a 5-2 win over the United States in March. Forward Lois Openda also misses out after spending much of the season on the Juventus bench.
Coach Rudi Garcia has assembled a squad blending seasoned veterans with emerging talent, aiming to bounce back from a disappointing group-stage exit in 2022. Belgium—who finished third at the 2018 World Cup—kicks off their Group G campaign against Egypt on June 15, followed by matches against Iran on June 21 and New Zealand on June 27. With Lukaku leading the line, the Red Devils are hoping to reignite their golden generation's quest for glory.
Belgium's World Cup Squad:
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Senne Lammens, Mike Penders.
Defenders: Timothy Castagne, Zeno Debast, Maxim de Cupyer, Koni de Winter, Brandon Mechele, Thomas Meunier, Nathan Ngoy, Joaquin Seys, Arthur Theate.
Midfielders: Kevin de Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Axel Witsel, and more.