Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku went viral for performing a dance associated with United States President Donald Trump after Belgium defeated the United States 4-1 in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match. The celebration came after Belgium scored their fourth goal and quickly attracted attention on social media, particularly because of the controversy that had dominated the build-up to the knockout clash.

Much of the pre-match discussion had centred on United States striker Folarin Balogun, who was allowed to play after FIFA suspended his one-match ban. Balogun had been sent off in the previous round and was initially expected to miss the Belgium match. The decision was reviewed after Trump contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino seeking intervention, a development that triggered criticism and debate across the football world.

Despite Balogun returning to the starting line-up, the United States were unable to take advantage as Belgium produced a commanding performance. Balogun struggled to make a major impact, while the Belgian side repeatedly put the hosts under pressure and secured a convincing 4-1 victory. The result ended the United States’ World Cup campaign and led to a wave of memes and reactions involving Trump on social media.

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Lukaku’s celebration became one of the most widely discussed moments after the match. The Belgium striker appeared to imitate Trump’s distinctive dance moves, with clips of the celebration spreading rapidly online. The timing of the gesture, coming after the controversy surrounding Balogun’s eligibility and the United States’ elimination, prompted fans to interpret it as a reference to the American president.

Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans later said the controversy surrounding Balogun had provided additional motivation for his team. He revealed that Belgium held a meeting after learning that the striker would be allowed to play and decided to respond through their performance on the pitch. Tielemans said he was proud of the team and stressed that Belgium wanted to make a strong start after struggling to do so earlier in the tournament.

Tielemans added that Belgium played with determination and believed the United States could be forced into mistakes if placed under sustained pressure. That approach proved effective as Belgium advanced to the quarter-finals with a dominant victory. For the eliminated hosts, the controversy over Balogun’s suspension ultimately had little effect on the result, while Lukaku’s viral celebration became one of the most memorable talking points from the Round of 16 encounter.

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