Romelu Lukaku says he belongs in ‘world class’ group with Harry Kane and Robert Lewandowski but isn’t given same credit

BELGIUM striker Romelu Lukaku has called for people to recognise him as a world class striker ahead of Belgium’s Euro 2020 last-16 clash with Portugal.

Speaking to the media in his press conference before tonight’s game the Inter striker asked for people to put his name up there with the world’s greatest strikers.

Lukaku said: “People have tended to describe things this way.

“When they talk about [Robert] Lewandowski, [Karim] Benzema, [Luis] Suarez, [Harry] Kane, they would say it’s world class level and with me it’s always about being in good form.

“In the last two years I think I have shown it’s not just good form.

“I belong with that group, I am at that level.”

The 28-year-old’s stats at international level certainly back up his claim, he’s scored a whopping 63 goals in 96 games for his country.

He also has a better goals-per-game ratio than ANY international with over 50 strikes.

Lukaku has also been in sparkling form for Inter this season, scoring 30 goals in 44 games as well as chipping in with ten assists to help fire Antonio Conte’s side to a first Serie A title since 2010.

He is the joint-second top scorer at Euro 2020 so far with three goals, the same number as Robert Lewandowski.

The striker bagged a brace in the 3-0 win over Russia on matchday one, as well as the second in the 2-0 win against Finland on matchday three.

That’s one more goal than Karim Benzema who has bagged twice for France so far, and three more than Harry Kane, who is yet to get off the mark at Euro 2020 after winning the golden boot at the 2018 World Cup.

Kane in fact has mustered just one effort on target in three games for Gareth Southgate’s England.

Luis Suarez is also in indifferent form for his country, with the striker failing to register a goal for Uruguay in the entirety of 2021 so far, including their ongoing Copa America campaign.

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Lukaku is next in action tonight in the mouthwatering last-sixteen clash between Belgium and Portugal at the Estadio de la Cartuja in Seville, in what is the first major tournament meeting between the sides.

An equally appealing quarter-final fixture against Italy then awaits the winners of tonight’s tie.