Romelu Lukaku becomes Belgium’s all-time FIFA World Cup top goalscorer

Romelu Lukaku has officially etched his name into Belgian football history. The 33-year-old striker scored his sixth career FIFA World Cup goal during Belgium’s 5-1 demolition of New Zealand, surpassing the previous record of five held by Marc Wilmots.

The milestone came during a group-stage match at the 2026 World Cup in Vancouver, Canada.

Breaking down Lukaku’s World Cup record

Wilmots held Belgium’s World Cup scoring record at five goals for years. Lukaku matched it and then moved past it in a single tournament appearance, his fourth World Cup overall.

The 2018 World Cup in Russia was arguably Lukaku’s finest tournament showing. He finished as the second-highest scorer in the Golden Boot race that year.

His 91 international goals across 129 appearances make him Belgium’s all-time leading scorer, full stop. Not just in World Cups. In everything.

The 5-1 victory in context

The 2026 tournament, co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, represents what many see as the final chapter for Belgium’s celebrated generation.

Lukaku, now plying his trade at Napoli in Serie A, arrived at this World Cup with something to prove.

Four World Cup appearances is no small feat for any player. Maintaining the fitness, form, and selection worthiness to compete at that level across what amounts to roughly a 12-year span speaks to both physical durability and professional dedication.

What this means for Belgian football and beyond

When Wilmots set the previous mark of five World Cup goals, it stood for a significant period. Lukaku clearing that bar raises the question of whether anyone in Belgian football will challenge his mark anytime soon.

His 91 total international goals could be the more durable record. World Cup goals require tournament qualification, individual selection, and match opportunities that only come around every four years.

Six World Cup goals puts Lukaku in select company globally, and doing it across four separate tournaments demonstrates a consistency that few strikers in the modern era can match.

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