Romelu Lukaku scores after 281 days: 'Big Rom' is back, rescuing Napoli

Napoli fans had to wait 281 days since the 2-0 win over Cagliari that secured last season's title to see Romelu Lukaku score again. The Belgian striker's golden last-minute goal in the 2-1 victory over Verona helped Napoli defend their 3rd place in the fiercely competitive race for a Top 4 spot in Serie A.

Lukaku made his return on January 25, 2026, after more than five months of injury recovery, but so far, he has only appeared in 5 matches with a total of just 62 minutes of playing time. It will take more time for "Big Rom" to return to 100% fitness, but the goal has arrived very early.

The moment of heroism

The match at the Bentegodi stadium unfolded in a nerve-wracking script for Antonio Conte. Napoli took an early lead in the 2nd minute thanks to Rasmus Hojlund, but then played sluggishly, lacked ideas, and allowed Verona to equalize. Just as everyone seemed resigned to a disappointing draw against the league's bottom team, who were on an 11-match winless streak, Lukaku appeared at the perfect moment.

In the 90+6th minute, mere seconds before the final whistle, following a cross from the young player Giovane (whom Napoli bought from Verona just five weeks ago), Lukaku was in the right place to deliver the match-winning strike. He took off his shirt in celebration, and later, tears flowed in his post-match interview. It was a release after a tragic season: from a serious left thigh muscle tear in late August to the pain of losing his father. "Before coming to Napoli, I felt like I was dead. This club has been the lifeline that helped me move forward," Lukaku shared.

Although not yet fit to start and his running still looks heavy, Lukaku's impact in attack remains undiminished. In just over 20 minutes after coming on in the 73rd minute, he made only 5 passes, but two of them created dangerous scoring opportunities. The goal-scoring situation also clearly showcased the physical strength and predatory instinct of the 32-year-old striker. Conte knows his prized pupil well: "Inside the box, he is a player with immense presence. If the team presses high and forces the opponent to defend deep, Lukaku becomes extremely dangerous."

A "blockbuster" signing for the final stretch

Lukaku's return and goal at this moment is nothing short of a blockbuster signing for Napoli in the decisive final phase of the season. Currently, the race for Champions League qualification is intensely tense, with up to 6 teams competing for 3 spots with very narrow point gaps. Had Napoli drawn with bottom-placed Verona, they could have been pushed down to 4th place if Roma beat Juventus, or seen Juventus close the gap to just 2 points if Roma lost in the early morning match of round 27. Behind them, Como also poses a significant threat, continuing their excellent form with a 3-1 win over Lecce to stay within 5 points of Napoli. The 2-1 win, though unconvincing, holds immense importance for manager Antonio Conte and his team.

Not just Lukaku, Napoli is expected to welcome back a host of key players in the coming days. Scott McTominay (missed the last 4 matches), Frank Anguissa (absent for 3 months), and Kevin De Bruyne (out for 4 months) are all projected to return for the next match against Torino, at least to the squad list. These reinforcements will be crucial for Napoli to at least maintain their 3rd position and secure a Champions League spot for next season.

With 11 rounds remaining, Napoli cannot afford mistakes. The appearance of the Lukaku-Hojlund partnership scoring in the same match for the first time opens up more diverse attacking options for Conte. The anticipated return of De Bruyne, along with the quality that McTominay and Anguissa will bring back to a midfield that has been lacking and weak recently, will undoubtedly strengthen the blue-clad team significantly. Defending the Scudetto has become impossible, but securing a Top 4 finish would still be a successful season for Napoli, who have already won the Italian Super Cup, a title also worthy of pride.