Romelu Lukaku will not win the World Cup Golden Boot after being subbed off in the 61st minute of Belgium’s 3rd place playoff versus England. The striker was two goals behind Three Lions captain Harry Kane on four goals.
ALSO READ: Best-ever Belgians seal World Cup 3rd place with 2-0 win over toothless Three Lions
The Manchester United striker, 25, had begun the day in touching distance of Tottenham striker Kane, who has six at the top of the pile. But with Belgium leading 1-0 through an early Thomas Meunier goal, Lukaku was subbed off just after the hour mark.
The frontman failed to find the net in that time, despite having his moments in front of goal, including being put through by playmaker Kevin de Bruyne, who was perhaps the most influential player on the pitch.
ALSO READ: Kerber beats Williams to claim maiden Wimbledon title
French pair Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe are the only players who have any remote chance of catching Kane now, but the two would need to score a hat-trick in Sunday’s final versus Croatia to match Kane from thier current total of three goals.
The only player to ever achieve that feat was England’s Geoff Hurst versus West Germany in 1966, the year The Three Lions clinched the tournament with a 4-2 final victory.