Romelu Lukaku #9

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Some strikers don’t score 89 goals in their entire career. Lukaku arrived at this World Cup having scored 89 for his country alone. That’s over twice as many as any other Belgian player – and why his nickname “Big Rom” isn’t just a reference to his bulky 1.91m frame. At this tournament he will be on a mission. Four years ago, in Qatar, he wasn’t fully fit and missed some big chances as a substitute against Croatia. “Afterwards, on vacation, for a week straight I was crying every day”, he told Koolcast later on. Apart from his sons Jordan and Romeo, it was the legendary Thierry Henry, former assistant of the national team, who gave him the mental support he needed. Last season Lukaku had his share of bad luck with his hamstring injury, which led to a falling out with the coaching staff and board at Napoli as the striker opted to complete a big part of his rehab in Antwerp. But even without many minutes to his name in 2025-26, defenders will still fear his strength and efficiency.

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