Political stir in Poland: Lewandowski expresses a sense of betrayal towards Probierz following the loss of his Poland captaincy.
Robert Lewandowski, Poland's all-time goalscorer and appearance-maker, has announced a boycott of the national team under the coaching of Michal Probierz, following the stripping of his captaincy[1][2][4]. This decision comes after a series of events that have strained the relationship between the player and the coach.
The conflict began when Probierz removed Lewandowski as captain, a role he had worn for 11 years[2]. The decision, supported by the team and staff, was reportedly due to Lewandowski's alleged negative impact on the dressing room atmosphere. However, Lewandowski expressed regret and anger about the situation, emphasising that his care for the national team has not changed[1].
The news of the captaincy removal was communicated over the phone, and Lewandowski was not prepared for it. He was putting his children to bed when he received the call[4]. This sudden and impersonal approach to the decision seems to have further fuelled Lewandowski's anger and mistrust towards Probierz.
Lewandowski, who has one more year to run on his Barca contract, may not have stepped away from the national team if Probierz had dealt with the situation differently[4]. He has been playing for Poland's national team for 17 years and has played 52 times for Hansi Flick's side across all competitions, scoring 42 goals and helping his team win three trophies, including the LaLiga title[4].
The implications for Poland's national football team were significant. Probierz resigned in June 2025 as a direct result of the fallout from this dispute[2][4]. The conflict left Poland without their iconic captain and all-time top scorer during critical World Cup qualifiers, creating a crisis of leadership and team morale[2][4]. The Polish Football Association then appointed Jan Urban as the new head coach. Urban stated his immediate priority was to persuade Lewandowski to return to the team and to rebuild a positive atmosphere, emphasising Lewandowski’s vital importance for Poland’s hopes of qualification to the 2026 World Cup[3][4].
This episode illustrates how internal conflicts, especially involving key players and leadership roles, can deeply affect a national team’s stability and performance[1][2][3][4].
References:
[1] BBC Sport. (2025). Robert Lewandowski quits Poland national team over captaincy row. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58658451
[2] The Guardian. (2025). Robert Lewandowski quits Poland team over captaincy row. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/jun/01/robert-lewandowski-quits-poland-team-over-captaincy-row
[3] Sky Sports. (2025). Poland appoint Jan Urban as new head coach. [online] Available at: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11091/12281969/poland-appoint-jan-urban-as-new-head-coach
[4] The Athletic. (2025). Robert Lewandowski boycotts Poland national team over captaincy row. [online] Available at: https://theathletic.com/2691145/2025/06/01/robert-lewandowski-poland-national-team-boycott-captaincy-row/
In light of the captaincy removal, Robert Lewandowski's frustration led him to temporarily withdraw from European football leagues, namely the Poland national team, causing a significant void in leadership and team morale during crucial World Cup qualifiers. The new coach, Jan Urban, has since made efforts to persuade Lewandowski to rejoin the team, acknowledging the striker's critical role in Poland's quest for the 2026 World Cup.
