Fortuna Düsseldorf forward Dodi Lukebakio is hopeful that his stellar form this season can help earn him a senior international cap with Belgium.

Lukebakio has taken the Bundesliga by storm since joining Fortuna on loan from Watford, with the 21-year-old’s seven league goals so far including an incredible hat-trick in a 3-3 draw with Bayern Munich in November.

The Belgium under-21 international also scored four times in the DFB Cup for the newly promoted club, who have surpassed expectations to sit comfortably in 12th position two thirds of the way through the campaign.

Lukebakio represented the Democratic Republic of Congo in a friendly match against Kenya in 2016, but he is now confident of continuing to pursue his international career with the country of his birth.

“Let me put it this way,” he told bundesliga.com. “I think I can play for the Belgian senior team. I’m delivering [on the pitch] and I’m learning every game. I think that would be a very good step for me.”

Watch: Lukebakio's unprecedented hat-trick against Manuel Neuer

If Lukebakio maintains his recent form, he will surely be on the radar of Belgium manager Roberto Martinez. The former Anderlecht player got his first goal in the Bundesliga by scoring the winner from the penalty spot to lead Fortuna to a 2-1 success against Hoffenheim on Matchday 3.

But the rangy attacker really caught the eye with a stunning performance at the home of the reigning champions on Matchday 12. Fortuna had been 2-0 down when Lukebakio got his first goal shortly before half-time at the Allianz Arena. Though Bayern soon went 3-1 up, the Belgian struck twice late on to salvage a point, also becoming the first ever player to score a hat-trick against Manuel Neuer in the Bundesliga.

“I’ll never forget that day,” said Lukebakio, who got the equaliser in injury-time. “It was something special.”

Lukebakio won Man of the Matchday honours for that display, and continued his brilliant run in December. Fortuna won three of their four games that month to move away from the relegation zone, with the new crowd favourite also getting on the scoresheet as his side condemned Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund to their first league defeat of the season.

In total in December, Lukebakio recorded two goals and 27 attacking dribbles, as well as averaging 31 sprints per game to be voted Bundesliga Rookie of the Month.

The rising star is at a loss to explain why he seems to save his goals for some of the biggest teams in the league – he has also netted against Eintracht Frankfurt and Werder Bremen this season – suggesting that he is reaping the benefit of his teammate’s hard work.

Watch: Learn more about brilliant Belgian Dodi Lukebakio

About the players

14

Dodi

Lukébakio Ngandoli

Hertha BSC

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But his hot streak is all the more remarkable given that he didn’t get much game time in a previous loan spell with Toulouse in Ligue 1 or in his first year with Watford.

“I learned from these difficult situations,” said Lukebakio, who had a more successful time on loan at Belgian side Sporting Charleroi in 2017. “And right now I’m trying to show everything I’ve learned on the pitch.”

The man of the moment also saved a special mention for the fans in Düsseldorf, who he credits for helping turn the team’s fortunes around.

“Before I came here, I never thought that we had such crazy fans,” he said. “When we lost six games in a row [between September and November], they always supported us. So I thought ‘we have to win.’ It’s a motivation [for the players]. I really like this club – it’s really nice to play for them.”

The feeling is no doubt mutual, with both the Düsseldorf fans and their latest hero enjoying a season to remember.

About the clubs

Fortuna Düsseldorf

Merkur Spielarena