Romelu Lukaku has been named in Belgium's 26-man World Cup squad even though he has played only an hour of competitive football this season. The Napoli striker has made seven substitute appearances in 2025-26 and has spent the past two months with Belgium recovering from a hamstring injury. This is a pick built on reputation, not rhythm, and Belgium have clearly decided that his international record still matters more than his club minutes.
Why Belgium still trust Lukaku
The numbers at club level are thin. Lukaku has only six appearances across all competitions for Napoli in 2025, totalling 74 minutes, with one goal to his name. He has also made just one Champions League appearance in 2025. That does not look like the profile of a striker ready to carry a side through a World Cup, which is why the call raises eyebrows.
But Belgium are not picking him in a vacuum. Lukaku is Belgium's all-time leading scorer with 89 goals from 124 caps, and his most recent international appearance came against Wales last June. That is the record Garcia is leaning on. He has also given Lukaku the chance to play in his fourth successive World Cup, alongside Thibaut Courtois, Kevin de Bruyne and Axel Witsel.
The squad choice says plenty about Belgium
There is also a wider selection message here. Belgium have gone with experience in the biggest names, and that shows in the company Lukaku keeps. Rudi Garcia has included the veteran core rather than treating lack of club minutes as an automatic disqualifier.
The other forward call underlines the point. Matias Fernandez-Pardo was included after pledging his international allegiance to Belgium this week, with Belgium choosing him instead of Lois Openda. Openda has 35 appearances and 1,162 minutes in 2025, so Belgium had a much more active attacking option available if they wanted one.
That is why Lukaku's inclusion stands out. Belgium are not pretending he has had a normal season at Napoli, they are betting that his record for country still makes him worth taking. If he gets through the tournament fully fit, the decision looks sensible. If he does not, the lack of club football will be the first thing people point to.
Belgium face Egypt, Iran and New Zealand in Group G in the United States and Canada, with Lukaku now part of the squad they will take into that group stage.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
