The latest split of Romelu Lukaku’s international output puts a spotlight on a familiar question. Why do the goals flow more freely in qualifiers than in tournaments? The graphic compares Belgium’s matches since the 2018 World Cup and gives us clean clues. Here is what the Sofascore data shows.

Tournament vs qualifiers since 2018

Belgium’s qualifiers have been a machine. Across 34 matches they went 27/7/0 and produced a Sofascore Rating of 7.24. In tournaments across 19 matches the record drops to 12/2/5 with a Sofascore Rating of 7.07. The team’s scoring power in qualifiers is 3.41 goals per game, while tournaments settle at 1.47.

Defensively, the picture barely changes. Belgium concede 0.59 per game in qualifiers and 0.68 in tournaments. The real swing appears when Belgium have the ball. Possession averages 66.3% in qualifiers versus 54.2% in tournaments. More of the ball usually means more service for a striker, and the numbers back that up.

Big chances and finishing

Chance volume is Lukaku’s fuel. Belgium create 3.65 big chances per game in qualifiers and 2.37 in tournaments. That is a notable drop in supply when the stakes are highest. Conversion shifts too. Big chance conversion runs at 51.6% in qualifiers, but only 37.8% in tournaments.

This is exactly where results start to tilt. Fewer big openings, finished at a lower clip, reduce the margin for any No 9. It also explains why scorelines look leaner in tournaments. For fans tracking performances on Sofascore, that mix of volume and finishing goes a long way in shaping the striker’s Sofascore Rating on international duty.

Profile and context for club and country

Lukaku is listed as a striker for Napoli in Serie A and wears the No 9. He is 191 cm tall, weighs 94 kg, and prefers his left foot. Belgium’s numbers since 2018 say he operates in two very different game states. In qualifiers, the team dominates the ball and creates more, which suits a penalty-box forward.

In tournaments, control dips and high-quality service tightens. That is where individual conversion becomes decisive. With a proposed market value of 5.8 million EUR, his role remains simple but demanding. Turn scarce chances into goals. As always, you can follow every touch and the updated Sofascore Rating on Sofascore.