Romelu Lukaku opened his Euro 2020 account by scoring against Russia and the striker took the opportunity to pay tribute to his Inter Milan teammate, Christian Eriksen.
Lukaku ran to the camera and briefly declined to celebrate the goal until he delivered a message to Eriksen.
"Chris, Chris... I love you," Lukaku said.
Eriksen collapsed during the first half of Denmark's opening game of Group A with Finland. He was treated by medical staff in attendance, pitchside, before being transferred to a hospital in Copenhagen where he is said to be in a stable condition.
Both sets of players and the supporters at the Parken stadium gave Eriksen an ovation as he left the field. A touching moment then ensued while the game was suspended, as both sets of fans chanted the midfielders name.
Supporters from both nations chanting Christian Eriksen's name in the stadium this evening | 🇩🇰🇫🇮#EURO2020 https://t.co/yg3QrrkPfC
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) June 12, 2021
The game resumed once Eriksen's countrymen were assured of his safety. Finland would go on to win the game 1-0 through a Joel Pohjanpala header.
Denmark did have the opportunity to level the score through a Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg penalty, however, the Tottenham midfielder's effort was saved by Finland's goalkeeper, Lukas Hradecky.
Lukaku's first goal at the tournament ensured he is now Belgium's all-time top goalscorer at the European Championships. He is already the country's top goalscorer at the World Cup.
Romelu Lukaku for club and country this season:
👤 55 matches
⚽️ 40 goal
🎯 12 assists
Form. Of. His. Life. #BEL #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/n6HMxJwMsT— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) June 12, 2021
Lukaku is coming off of a sensational year for Inter Milan where he scored 24 goals in Serie A for the Nerazzuri. He is widely expected to be in contention for the Golden Boot award at Euro 2020.
After some awful goalkeeping from Anton Shunin, Thomas Meunier doubled Belgium's lead in St Petersburg. The Borussia Dortmund full-back calmly rolled the ball into an empty net after the ball fell to him in the box, following Shunin's failed attempt at parrying a cross from wide.
Belgium lead the game 2-0 and the second half has just resumed.
