Romelu Lukaku scored a crucial equalizer shortly after entering the field to help Belgium secure a draw against Egypt in their World Cup match on June 16, 2026. The 33-year-old striker, recently returning from an injury-hit season at Napoli where he played just 64 minutes, had been criticized as "out of shape" by Belgium’s head coach Rudi Garcia when the squad was announced. Despite doubts about his form, Lukaku’s immediate impact underlined his continuing importance to Belgium’s fading "golden generation."

Lukaku's goal came a mere 22 seconds after he replaced a teammate, forcing Egypt’s Mohamed Hany into an own goal that leveled the score. This moment was a significant turnaround for Lukaku, who had a difficult World Cup in 2022 when he missed several clear chances in Belgium’s early exit from that tournament. The goal rekindled hopes for the veteran forward and his team, demonstrating that Belgium’s experienced contingent can still influence critical matches.

Belgium’s current squad includes a diverse group of players with experience across various leagues. Left back Sidney Lopes Cabral is with Turkey’s Trabzonspor, while defender Steven Moreira plays for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer. The midfield features Kevin Pina of Russian club Krasnodar, Jamiro Monteiro from Dutch side PEC Zwolle, and Laros Duarte of Hungary’s Puskas FC. Winger Ryan Mendes, currently at Igdır in Turkey, has a history with French clubs Lille and Le Havre, as well as a loan spell at Nottingham Forest in England’s Championship. Another winger, Jovane Cabral, plays for Portugal’s Estrela da Amadora and has past experience with Sporting Lisbon, Lazio, and Olympiacos.

On the opposing side, Cape Verde’s striker Dailon Livramento, on loan from Verona to Portugal’s Casa Pia, has gained national recognition for a notable goal against Cameroon the previous year despite not being a prolific scorer.

Spain dominated possession and created numerous chances during their match against Cape Verde, registering 27 shots with seven on target. Ferran Torres came closest to scoring, hitting the crossbar in the first half. The rebound was narrowly kept out by Cape Verde’s goalkeeper Vozinha, who also made a critical save against Mikel Oyarzabal’s header.

Reflecting on the performance, Vozinha expressed pride in his recognition as man of the match. “For me, it’s an honour to represent the country I love,” he said, acknowledging the challenges faced in Cape Verde’s difficult qualification path. “Today, our dream came true by competing against a team like Spain.”