Romelu Lukaku is not interested in claiming the World Cup Golden Boot claims Belgium manager Roberto Martinez.
However, with Lukaku’s performance, Martinez feels he may not have a choice. The Manchester United striker grabbed a brace as his side thrashed Tunisia 5-2. Following his opening-match brace against Panama, he now has four for the tournament and is level with Cristiano Ronaldo as leading goalscorer. Martinez feels the marksman is not interested in individual honors but helping the team during the current tournament.
“He will tell you, he’s not here to be the top scorer at the World Cup. He’s here to help the team to win and do his role. His role is of someone who can score goals,” said Martinez.
Speaking in his pre-match news conference, Martinez also said Lukaku was benefiting from being asked to contribute less in other facets of the game: dropping deep, linking up, being the focal point. That, according to the Spaniard, had cleared Lukaku’s mind and enabled him to focus on his primary task of scoring goals.
It is, therefore, hard to know what Martinez would have made of the burly number nine’s performance at Spartak Stadium for every responsibility he was supposed to have relinquished he displayed in spades.
Just 13 minutes had elapsed when Lukaku escaped down the right and whipped in a perfect cross that Eden Hazard, who had already scored having won and converted a penalty, uncharacteristically fluffed.