Romelu Lukaku matches Belgium's goals record with brace

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:32 am

Romelu Lukaku scored twice in the first half to match the Belgium all-time goals record in a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia.

The Manchester United striker put Belgium 2-0 up within the opening 39 minutes and then added an assist to let Kevin De Bruyne score the final goal in the 79th minute, one minute after Michy Batshuayi netted the third.

Lukaku equalled Bernard Voorhoof and Paul van Himst's 30 goals for Belgium. He had three international goals scratched out early in his career after Belgium made too many substitutes in a game in which Lukaku scored a hat trick, leading some outlets to report he had previously broken the record.

Romelu Lukaku bagged two first-half goals for Belgium against Saudi Arabia.
Romelu Lukaku bagged two first-half goals for Belgium against Saudi Arabia.
Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images

Kevin De Bruyne picked off a poor Saudi Arabia pass in their own half and passed ahead for Lukaku to slot in the opener from 20 yards in the 13th minute, then added his second shortly before the break after being played through by Eden Hazard.

Hazard somehow saw a shot kept out off the underside of the bar early in the second half, but Batshuayi added a third following an audacious backheel turn int he box.

Lukaku then capped his night by playing a one-two with De Bruyne to get on the scoresheet after a 79th-minute counter-attack.