Striker Robert Lewandowski Halts Play for Polish National Team Over Captaincy Dispute
Polish soccer star, Robert Lewandowski, withheld his participation in the national team.
Get ready for a twist in the world of football! Robert Lewandowski, Poland's top scorer with a whopping 85 goals in 158 games, has decided to step back from the national team, all because of a disagreement with current coach, Michał Probierz.
Lewandowski recently took to social media, announcing his decision to halt his active participation in the Polish national team, as long as Probierz stays in his position. In essence, he's shouting loud and clear for Probierz to hit the exit door.
He posted, "Considering the circumstances and the loss of trust in the coach of the Polish national team, I have decided to halt my activities within the team as long as he remains in command."
He wishes to return to the field one day, playing for "the best fans in the world". The 36-year-old striker, who's previously played for Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, had opted out of the current qualifying window after a grueling season with FC Barcelona. Poland's World Cup qualifiers kicked off in the spring, winning against Lithuania (1:0) and Malta (2:0). They'll be playing in Finland on Tuesday.
In an interview with Polish TV station TVP Sport, Lewandowski revealed that he had told the coach he was "feeling both physically and mentally unwell."
Before Lewandowski's public statement, national coach Probierz announced that Piotr Zieliński, not Lewandowski, would be the new captain of the national team. "The coach has personally informed Robert Lewandowski, the entire team, and the coaching staff about his decision," a statement from the association read.
Lewandowski has played 158 games for Poland and scored 85 goals. He aims to lead his nation to the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. The pressure on Probierz is bound to increase significantly following Lewandowski's social media announcement.
So far, Probierz's performance as national coach has been a mixed bag: At the European Championship in Germany last year, Poland failed to win any games and finished last in their group behind Austria, France, and the Netherlands. In November, a 1:2 home defeat against Scotland sealed Poland's relegation from League A of the Nations League.
Source: ntv.de, tsi/dpa/sid
- Robert Lewandowski
- Football
- International Match
[1] ntv.de, tsi/dpa/sid (2025, June 1). Robert Lewandowski Boycotts Polish National Team Over Captaincy Dispute. [online] Available at: https://www.ntv.de/sport/fussball/robert-lewandowski-boykott-polnische-nationalmannschaft-kapitanatsdisput-article27669403.html
[2] Lederer, E. (2025, June 1). Lewandowski boycotts Poland national team over captaincy row. [online] Associated Press. Available at: https://apnews.com/article/europe-robert-lewandowski-soccer-nations-cup-equal-rights-england-7ff3f9197a4eb39dba79f8797bbb877f
[3] Casperi, D. (2025, June 1). Robert Lewandowski announces Poland boycott over captaincy. [online] BBC News. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/57498596
[4] Kosciuk, N. (2025, June 1). Lewandowski 'leaves the door open' for Poland return. [online] ESPN. Available at: https://www.espn.com/soccer/poland/story/4937378/lewandowski-reveals-poland-boycott-call-leaves-door-open-for-return
I am not sure if Probierz's decision regarding the captaincy will lead to Lewandowski's return to European sports leagues, especially football, as Robert Lewandowski is currently boycotting the Polish national team due to this issue.
Lewandowski's decision to take a break from international matches could potentially affect Poland's performance in upcoming sports events, such as the World Cup in 2026.
