Romelu Lukaku at 94 goals, Lionel Messi says goodbye: what record?

This Tuesday, in Buenos Aires, Lionel Messi signed his farewell to Argentina by scoring his 126th goal under the albiceleste shirt, his last. During the same international break, Romelu Lukaku wore the colours of Belgium and added his 94th goal for the national team, taking the Red Devils' tally to a historic level.

Towards the scorers' podium

With 94 goals, Lukaku is closing in on fourth place in the world ranking of international scorers. Some media cite 91 goals, excluding the hat‑trick against Luxembourg not recognised by FIFA, but Transfermarkt confirms 94. Sunil Chhetri's latest goal, his 95th, was scored in March 2025, and the player said: "I am a supporter now, I will not return". Above that, Ali Daei holds 109 goals for Iran, putting the Belgian within reach of a historic record.

During the Euro 2024 qualifiers, Lukaku found the back of the net twelve times, including a quadruple against Azerbaijan. These performances show that he has the potential to push his total well beyond the current mark, especially if he remains present for the upcoming tournaments.

However, Harry Kane, 33, scored six goals in four matches during the same break, taking his total to 91, giving him an edge over the Belgian. But for Lukaku to surpass the Englishman, he will need to shine in the Euro 2027 qualifiers, where every goal will count.

Messi, Ronaldo and the end of an era

The same Tuesday, Lionel Messi scored his final goal, the 126th, for Argentina, thus marking the end of an exceptional international career. For his part, Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from the Portuguese national team, leaving his tally at 146 goals, a record that, according to him, will remain unbeaten for a long time as long as Jorge Jesus remains at the helm of Portugal.

Thus, the landscape of international goal records is being reshaped: Lukaku's challenge, the retirements of Messi and Ronaldo, and Kane's rise provide a new dynamic for the Red Devils. The Belgian public, invited to "Become a fan of Belgium!", will watch closely every step of the Belgian giant towards the podium.