World Cup 2018: Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku isn’t thinking about winning Golden Boot, insists boss Roberto Martinez
ROMELU LUKAKU is only thinking about the team — not individual prizes.
The Belgium striker is firmly in the race for the Golden Boot after two goals in his side’s opening 3-0 win over Panama.
Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo leads the way with four, Spain’s Diego Costa and Russian Denis Cheryshev are on three, with Harry Kane on two.
But while the England hitman declared his ambition to be top scorer, Roberto Martinez says Lukaku is focused only on helping Belgium win the World Cup.
The Red Devils face Tunisia in Group G today and boss Martinez said: “Rom will tell you he is not here to be the top scorer in the World Cup — and that pleases me.
“He’s here to try and help the team win and to fulfil his role.
“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 — that’s the focus.”
Lukaku only touched the ball seven times in the first half against Panama, with skipper Eden Hazard accusing him of “hiding”.
But the £75million Manchester United hitman pounced twice in the space of six minutes during the second half.
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And Martinez admits he is happy for Lukaku, 25, to go missing in games — as long as he puts the ball in the back of the net when his chance arrives.
Martinez, who signed Lukaku at Everton in 2014 for a then club-record £28m, added: “Rom’s role is to score goals. The reason we spent that amount on him at Everton was the quality of his finishing.
“It wasn’t because he was the finished article and could give you something other than goals.
“I think his role now with the national team has become that. I think before there was confusion.
“When you ask him to do too many things, his performance gets diluted.
“But Rom knows now what his role is — like I hope every other player does on the pitch.”
Kevin De Bruyne supplied the first of Lukaku’s goals in Sochi.
And he admits he is baffled by the criticism of Belgium’s all-time leading scorer, who has netted 15 in his last ten internationals.
Manchester City ace De Bruyne said: “Every year he shows what he can do. There is criticism of his technique — but he is powerful, fast and scores goals.
“He tries to work on his weaknesses, but every season he scores between 25 and 30 goals.”
Martinez is expecting a tough test from Tunisia, who frustrated England in Volgograd before Kane’s injury-time winner.
He said: “We respect Tunisia’s threat. They have a high tempo, they are a brave group. They force you to concentrate every second.”
Tunisia boss Nabil Maaloul said: “We have to win. The hopes of the Arab world are pinned on us — we cannot disappoint.”