Belgium is amazing FIFA World Cup The return in 2026 against Senegal featured more than late goals and dramatic VAR decisions. Before the Red Devils could pull off one of the biggest turnarounds in World Cup knockout history, striker Romelu Lukaku was forced to intervene and separate two of his own teammates during a heated confrontation on the pitch.Trailing 0-2 until the 86th minute of their Round of 32 clash with Seattle, Belgium appeared destined for elimination. Frustration flared among the players, with captain Youri Tielemans and Leandro Trossard engaged in an animated exchange before Lukaku stepped in to calm the temper.Amazingly, the three players at the center of the incident will join forces to write Belgium’s unforgettable escape.
Lukaku was the peacemaker before Belgium’s dramatic revival
Senegal dominated most of the contest and looked comfortable after the first half and early in the second half goals put them firmly in control. As Belgium’s hopes faded, emotions ran high, prompting Lukaku to separate Tielemans and Trossard before the situation escalated.Moments later, the experienced striker sparked a comeback by pulling one back in the 86th minute.Just three minutes later, Trossard delivered a cheeky cross into the penalty area, where Tielemans rose to head home the equalizer and force extra time, completing a remarkable turnaround in regulation.
VAR drama and record-breaking winner
Belgium completed the comeback in dramatic fashion until extra time. In the upcoming penalty shootout, Lamine Camara brought down Tielemans in the area. After a lengthy VAR review, the referee pointed to the spot despite furious protests from the Senegalese players, who delayed the restart by circling the penalty area.After nearly seven minutes of drama, Tielemans confidently fired his penalty into the top corner in the 125th minute — the latest goal scored in FIFA World Cup history — to seal a stunning 3-2 win.The victory also made Belgium only the second team in the last 11 FIFA World Cups to recover from a two-goal deficit in a knockout match, matching their famous comeback against Japan in 2018. The Red Devils now face the United States in the Round of 16 as confidence soared after one of the tournament’s most dramatic victories.