Golden Boot comes after the team for Lukaku insists Belgium boss Roberto Martinez

Golden Boot comes after the team for Lukaku insists Belgium boss Roberto Martinez

Belgium manager Roberto Martinez says Romelu Lukaku is not focused on winning the Golden Boot in Russia, and is instead thinking solely of helping the team.

Lukaku kicked off his and his country’s World Cup campaign in style earlier in the week, the 25-year-old bagging a quick second-half brace as Belgium swept aside Panama 3-0 in their Group G opener.

Roberto Martinez’s side take on Tunisia this afternoon knowing a win will secure safe passage to the last-16.


Lukaku’s two goals make him the joint third top scorer in the tournament so far, and a goal today would take him in touching distance of current top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo, who has four. Another brace and Lukaku will be level with the Portuguese striker. Anything more will make him Russia’s top goal getter.

However, Martinez insists that while Lukaku wants to score goals, he does so fort he want of helping his country, and not for his own personal gain.

“He will tell you, he’s not here to be the top goalscorer in the World Cup,” Martínez said. “He’s here to try to help the team to win and to fulfil his role. His role is someone who can score goals. I know Rom well.

“The reason we spent the biggest amount of money for Everton was because we saw the outstanding quality of his finishing, not because he was the finished article, not because he was a player who could give you something other than scoring goals.

“I think his role now with the national team has become that. I think before there was a bit of confusion. When you ask him to do too many things he’s not good at, he becomes a bit diluted in terms of his performance.

“I think Rom knows now what his role is, like I hope every other player does on the pitch, because that’s the only way we can become a team. I wouldn’t expect any player to work towards an individual award in this tournament. I think the players know exactly what they have to do in order to try to help the team become a winning team, and that’s the focus.”