Romelu Lukaku helped save Belgium’s World Cup.

Then, with the match on the line, he stepped aside.

Belgium’s 3-2 comeback win over Senegal was already one of the most dramatic matches of the tournament. They were 2-0 down with only minutes left, close to elimination and running out of ideas.

Then Lukaku came off the bench and changed the game.

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A goal that started the comeback

According to TV 2 Sport, Lukaku scored in the 86th minute to pull Belgium back into the match.

It was a classic striker’s contribution from a player who has carried Belgium through difficult moments before.

His goal made it 2-1 and gave Rudi Garcia’s side belief at a point when Senegal appeared to be heading for the round of 16. Youri Tielemans later equalised, before the Aston Villa midfielder completed the comeback from the penalty spot in extra time.

Reported by AP, Tielemans’ penalty came in the 125th minute, making it the latest goal in World Cup history.

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A thought for his father

After the match, Lukaku’s emotions were clear.

The Belgium striker looked upward and spoke about the personal meaning behind his goal.

“I am sure that it is my father up there who is helping me,” Lukaku said.

It was a short sentence, but it explained why the moment felt bigger than football for him.

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Lukaku has spoken before about personal pain and difficult periods in his career. Against Senegal, he still found a way to produce when Belgium needed him most.

Why he did not take the penalty

Lukaku’s most revealing moment, however, came after the goal.

Belgium were awarded a penalty deep into extra time. As one of the country’s great goalscorers, Lukaku would normally have been an obvious candidate to take it.

Instead, he told Tielemans to step forward.

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“Yes, it was, but mentally I am still going through a hard time, so I preferred that Youri took the penalty,” Lukaku said.

That admission gave the night a different tone. This was not a player hiding behind a tactical explanation. It was a player openly saying that he did not feel ready for the weight of that moment.

Team before ego

Lukaku also made clear that his decision was not about fear of responsibility alone.

It was about choosing what he believed gave Belgium the best chance to win.

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“It is not me who should win, it is the team. In that moment I thought it was best that Youri took it,” he said.

Tielemans did exactly that. He converted the penalty, completed Belgium’s comeback and sent them into the round of 16.

For Lukaku, the decision may have been just as important as the goal.

Belgium move on with their striker still fighting

Belgium now continue their World Cup run, but the match against Senegal left a more complicated picture of Lukaku.

He remains decisive. He remains capable of changing a match in a few minutes. He remains one of Belgium’s most important attacking players.

But he is also carrying something heavier.

His honesty after the game was striking because elite football often leaves little room for vulnerability. Lukaku did not pretend everything was simple. He scored, stepped aside when he felt it was right, and put the team first.

Belgium survived because of Tielemans’ penalty.

They were still alive because Lukaku gave them the first spark.