MAY 26, 2014
Scores a hat-trick
against Luxembourg
but the game is not
recognised by FIFA
as Belgium made
seven substitutions
instead of six.
DEC 19, 2015
A goal in a 3-2 loss
to Leicester City sees
him become the first
Everton player to
score in eight
consecutive games
since 1954.APR 15, 2017
On target against
Burnley, he becomes
the first player since
Dixie Dean to
score in nine
consecutive games
at Goodison Park.AUG 13, 2017
Scores twice on
his Premier
League debut for
Manchester United
as they beat West
Ham United 4-0.can only compliment him on his sound
judgement and boldness. Some Belgian
cynics claimed at the time that Lukaku’s
sweet 16 call-up was nothing more than
a publicity stunt, a move designed to
prove that Anderlecht’s academy was
bearing as much fruit as that of arch-
rivals Standard Liege. How wrong that
assessment was.
The kid was the real deal and within a
year he would be a fully fledged national
headliner, the top scorer in the 2009-10
Belgian league, a domestic champion
and a full international.
“Hats off to Romelu for the calm way
he dealt with the hype,” says Jacobs. “He’s
healthy, cool and adult in his attitude. It’s
not always easy for such young shoulders
to carry this sort of baggage.”
Belgiun coach Martinez and Lukakuhave been a viable double act for years,
with Martinez behind the striker’s initial
loan move to Everton in the summer
of 2013. He subsequently signed him
permanently, being more than happy
to shell out a then club record fee.
In their three years together at
Goodison Park, Lukaku amassed 61
goals in all competitions, and since the
pair teamed up internationally, in August
2016, the striker has kept up the good
work, netting an incredible 35 times in
33 appearances for Belgium.
Theirs is a mutual appreciation society.
While Martinez unhesitatingly describes
Lukaku as the best striker in the world,
the striker is equally happy to return
serve, wholly attributing his recent
national team successes to the Spaniard.
“Martinez released me from
international prison,” Lukaku toldRomelu Lukaku
Teenage star...it all started at Anderlecht