Last night, Romelu Lukaku, currently on loan at AS Roma from Chelsea, achieved a new milestone by setting a record for the most goals scored in a single European Championship qualifying campaign. His stunning performance led to four out of Belgium’s five goals in their 5-0 victory against Azerbaijan, pushing his tally for Euro 2024 qualifiers to an impressive 14 goals.
This achievement places the 30-year-old striker ahead of David Healy and Robert Lewandowski, who scored 13 goals each in the qualifying campaigns for Euro 2008 and Euro 2016, respectively. Lukaku’s overall record for Belgium is extraordinary, boasting 83 goals in 113 appearances for his country.
His form at AS Roma this season has also been commendable, finding the net nine times in 14 appearances under Jose Mourinho’s management.
Considering Chelsea’s potential interest in bolstering their striker options, retaining Lukaku after his loan spell at Roma might seem like a strategic move. However, Lukaku’s apparent lack of desire to return to Chelsea is evident by his current presence at the Stadio Olimpico. Consequently, forcing his stay at the club may not align with his preferences, even if he maintains his goal-scoring prowess.
Given this context, it wouldn’t be surprising if Chelsea supporters leaned towards supporting Nicolas Jackson, despite his recent struggles. Fortunately, the 22-year-old has shown promising performances in Chelsea’s recent matches against Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, providing optimism for his continued improvement.