Those watching Thursday’s World Cup battle between Switzerland and Cameroon probably found themselves doing a double-take when Cameroonian forward Byron Mbeumo made an appearance on their television screens.

During their 1-0 loss to the Swiss, there were a couple of moments where we couldn’t help but wonder whether number 20 in the green Cameroon jersey was actually LeBron James.

LeBron James laughs during questions from the press at the Los Angeles Lakers media day on September 26, 2022 in El Segundo, California. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)

The resemblance is uncanny.

so this why LeBron been out the last 5 games pic.twitter.com/WZaVWMgqOz

— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) November 24, 2022

This obviously isn’t LeBron… Or is it? After seeing his doppelgänger, LeBron left open the possibility that perhaps this DOES explain why he’s been out the past few games.

THIS IS MY PEAK pic.twitter.com/pqHHd7FjgS

— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) November 24, 2022

THIS IS MY PEAK pic.twitter.com/pqHHd7FjgS

— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) November 24, 2022

LeBron wasn’t the only one reacting to his lookalike. Several others took to Twitter to express their disbelief:

What can’t LeBron do? pic.twitter.com/sdTxUKxrcW

— Hoops (@HoopMixOnly) November 24, 2022

so this why LeBron been out the last 5 games pic.twitter.com/WZaVWMgqOz

— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) November 24, 2022

LeBron in the World Cup pic.twitter.com/PofvAkpT91

— Ballsack Sports (@BallsackSports) November 24, 2022

so this why LeBron been out the last 5 games pic.twitter.com/WZaVWMgqOz

— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) November 24, 2022

kyrie was out there too btw pic.twitter.com/LZ9WHcfcaz

— Biased Embiid Fan (@HonestJotaro) November 25, 2022

Bro why does LeBron have so many lookalikes? 💀😭 pic.twitter.com/YYyvEm5vKZ

— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) November 25, 2022

so this why LeBron been out the last 5 games pic.twitter.com/WZaVWMgqOz

— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) November 24, 2022

LeFutbol pic.twitter.com/ikezUTQXPf

— Adrian Smith (@asmith906) November 24, 2022

Bro has even the hair loss back in the head 💀

— Bate (@Bateking59) November 24, 2022

Respect mbuemo?? He has a sharp hairline 😭

— GN (@_ShowtimeG) November 24, 2022

so this why LeBron been out the last 5 games pic.twitter.com/WZaVWMgqOz

— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) November 24, 2022

LePortugal and kinda of looks like Ume Idoka for some reason pic.twitter.com/3xl7iuCtxt

— AY🇸🇴 (@aykeepitabuck) November 24, 2022

so this why LeBron been out the last 5 games pic.twitter.com/WZaVWMgqOz

— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) November 24, 2022

LePenalty

— Pluto (@Cozy_4x) November 24, 2022

pic.twitter.com/ZIzcoYSa4X

— Healthy chronicles Vol. 4 (@bighealthyfr) November 24, 2022

“I actually skipped a Laker game to play in the World Cup. Told coach to have my jersey ready and I ended up scoring 7 goals. It was a crazy day.” pic.twitter.com/Dw5Hjs1blQ

— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) November 24, 2022

LeSoccer ‼️

— jordan shuttlesworth stepback🎯 (@taefrmnola) November 24, 2022

LeWorldCup💀 pic.twitter.com/2V6X80pRbg

— PatClutch🦇 (@ClutchGenes_A1) November 24, 2022

“And that’s when I told en just gimme a jersey I’ll go put one in the back of the net” pic.twitter.com/ipHbXm4c1b

— George (@skolcalvikes) November 24, 2022

Nah the similarity is actually insane

— 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬 (@bcbright17) November 24, 2022

The 2022-23 season is shaping up to be another rough campaign for LeBron James and the Lakers. With a 5-11 record, they currently find themselves in second-last place in the Western Conference. As for LeBron himself, he’s been out the last five games with a groin injury…or because he’s been playing in the World Cup in Qatar.

To be honest, I don’t even know what to believe anymore.