Napoli striker Romelu Lukaku has suffered another significant setback in his return to full fitness, sustaining an ankle injury while in Belgium. This latest blow casts a shadow over his potential participation in the upcoming World Cup.
The experienced center-forward had recently returned to Naples for discussions with his club and was subsequently granted permission to travel back to Belgium to continue his rehabilitation for persistent thigh issues.
Lukaku Faces Fresh Injury Concerns
However, reports from HLN in Belgium indicate that Lukaku was forced to leave the training ground in Antwerp after less than an hour, clutching his ankle.
Lukaku had been working with physiotherapist Peter Gors from MovetoCure, whom he believed was better equipped to manage his recovery compared to the support offered by Napoli in Italy.
This new injury is in a completely different area than the thigh strain that sidelined him for several months in August 2025. The extent of the damage and its impact on his recovery timeline are yet to be determined.
With the 2026 World Cup in his sights, and at 32 years old, this tournament represents a potentially final opportunity for Lukaku to play a prominent role. Napoli will also be worried, as an injured Lukaku could prove more difficult to offload in the upcoming summer transfer window.
