Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne go together on Belgiums attack like peanut butter and jelly coming together to make the most timeless sandwich ever. Each player has built out their own impressive careers with their separate clubs but when they come together there is little a team can do to stop them. Having so much success between them, the two had to create a celebratory handshake to go alongside it.
In 2014, the Belgium National Team ended their streak of failing to reach a major tournament since 2004, by qualifying for the 2014 World Cup. Fortunes changed for the national squad when Belgium's "Golden Generation" started making their international appearances. This "generation" included Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku which altered Belgium football forever. They quickly established Belgium as a force again by not only making the tournament but making it to the Semi-finals where they lost to Argentina.
The story behind that celebration. #DEVILTIME #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/IQtUTKTeLI
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) June 22, 2021
This is where the timeless handshake was born, as Lukaku set up De Bruyne for a dashing put-away to beat the USMNT in the World Cup Tournament. The two can be seen doing their handshake with outstretched hands grasping each other as they point to the sky, displays everything great about football. De Bruyne spoke about what the photo of the two meant to him saying, "that photo is just beautiful: the view, the environment around it, black and white, diversity in the photo. That's what makes it all so beautiful." The photo illuminates two humans who have come from different backgrounds embracing each other in the moment of victory.
You can find them doing the handshake through their different years of competitions: the first time coming in the 2014 World Cup, later being at the 2016 European Championships, and then again in the 2018 World Cup. The latest edition came recently in the 2020 Euros after De Bruyne assisted Lukaku in a win against Finland.
Lukaku and De Bruyne have a handshake. Please that's so cute. #FINBEL pic.twitter.com/Gf7GXkTXkg
— Ulrike⁷ ᴮᴱ (@taerashbag) June 21, 2021
As our world continues to be deeply divided on numerous issues, Lukaku and De Bruyne lead by example. Their relationship and chemistry should be everyone's friendship goals as the duo's bromance is as wholesome as it can get. Their classic celebration is actually not a special celebration but just their go-to handshake between the two. Their friendship is so strong that Lukaku said, “I have the best relationship with Kevin. I’ve told him things I wouldn’t trust anyone else because I know it will never come out.” The skillful tandem is so tight-knit that they even are seen doing the handshake as they line up across from each other before opposing each other in a match.
— Alexander (@mcfc_Alexander) June 22, 2021
The iconic handshake illuminates a deeper relationship between the two than just being teammates, it reminds me of how pure and whole child friendships can be, they are brothers in arms. The handshake represents how people of different backgrounds and even races come together through sports to form a special kind of comradery. Our society can be extremely divided on important issues which leads to more pain and suffering in our world. This is why it is important to share and amplify these types of stories of humans coming together. Lukaku even said the Belgium National Team, "...tried to show to the Belgium population we can be unified despite being from different backgrounds and different parts of the population."
I believe this very important picture of the two hands clasped in the sky together is extremely powerful. It shows diversity and love but most important of all it shows triumph through joining together as humans. Something we need to steer back into as a society.
