Cynthia Ezegwu
Napoli and Belgium striker, Romelu Lukaku, is mourning the death of his father, Roger Lukaku, who passed away at the age of 58.
The news comes at a challenging period for the 31-year-old forward, who is currently sidelined by injury.
In an emotional gesture, Lukaku cleared his Instagram page, leaving only a heartfelt tribute to his late father. He wrote:
“Thank you for teaching me everything I know. I’m forever grateful and appreciate you. Life will never be the same. Protecting and guiding me like no one else could. I won’t be the same. The pain and tears are flowing big time, but God will give me the strength to get myself back together.”
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Roger Lukaku, himself a former professional footballer, was instrumental in shaping his son’s career. The elder Lukaku represented Zaire (now DR Congo) before retiring and remained a source of inspiration for Romelu, who has often spoken about his father’s influence.
The Napoli star, who played a key role in the club’s recent Serie A title success, has since received an outpouring of support from teammates, fans, and the global football community as he grieves his father’s death while working on his recovery from injury.