Why Donnarumma and Lukaku clashed at the end of Italy 0-2 Belgium

BERGAMO, ITALY - MARCH 26: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Italy celebrates his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Italy and Northern Ireland at Stadio di Bergamo on March 26, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Roberto Mancini’s second stint as head coach of the Italy national team started with a defeat at home against Belgium on Friday evening, and after a pitiful display at the Stadio Olimpico, captain Gianluigi Donnarumma was left rowing with Romelu Lukaku at the full-time whistle. 

Italy 0-2 Belgium ends in Donnarumma-Lukaku handbags

Goals from Mika Godts and Dodi Lukebakio provided Belgium with a 2-0 victory over Italy at the Stadio Olimpico in the first match of the 2026-27 Nations League campaign. The result leaves Italy in last place in the Nations League group, behind Belgium, France and Turkiye, after the first round of fixtures. 

Though Donnarumma was arguably Italy’s strongest performer on the night, his evening ended on a sour note after coming to blows with former Inter, Roma and Napoli striker Lukaku at the full-time whistle. 

Lukaku, who is Belgium’s all-time leading goalscorer, gestured ‘2-0’ towards the Italy supporters in the stands before raising his finger to his lips, appearing to shush the Azzurri supporters who were still inside the Stadio Olimpico. 

This led Donnarumma to come over and confront Lukaku, requiring the referees and their teammates to intervene and separate them.