Lukaku marks return with late goal as Belgium beat Croatia
Romelu Lukaku made a memorable comeback for Belgium, scoring in a 2-0 win over Croatia in Rijeka. The Napoli forward netted in the 96th minute on his first international appearance in more than a year, after being sidelined since September 2025 due to injury. Youri Tielemans gave Belgium the lead in the first half, while Croatia struggled to convert their chances. The match served as a key preparation for both teams ahead of their upcoming World Cup campaigns.
Match highlights
- Romelu Lukaku scored in the 96th minute, marking his return after missing action since September 2025.
- Youri Tielemans put Belgium ahead with a goal after 38 minutes.
- Croatia's best first-half opportunity came from a shot by Luka Modric just before the break.
- Ante Budimir hit the bar for Croatia near the hour mark, missing a chance to equalize.
- The win was Belgium’s penultimate match before facing Egypt on June 15 in their tournament opener.
