Robert Lewandowski is temporarily retiring from the Polish national team. The striker will only return if head coach Michal Probierz steps down. The reason for this is the removal of his captain’s armband.
The Polish Football Association released a striking message on X on Sunday at 9:01 PM. “Head coach Probierz appoints Piotr Zielinski as the new captain of the national team. He has personally informed Lewandowski, the entire team, and the coaching staff of his decision.”
More than half an hour later, Lewandowski responded. “Given the circumstances and the lost confidence of the national team’s head coach, I will stop playing for the Polish national team as long as he is coach,” the 36-year-old Barcelona striker writes on X.
Lewandowski emphasizes that, as far as he is concerned, it is a ‘see you later’ and not a ‘farewell’. “I hope that one day I can play again for the best fans in the world.”
Lewandowski is regarded as the greatest Polish footballer of all time. The forward played 158 international matches, in which he scored 85 times. ‘Lewa’ was active at the World Cups in 2018 and 2022, and the European Championships in 2012, 2016, 2021 and 2024.
Lewandowski will therefore not be present on Tuesday when Poland plays against Finland in the World Cup qualification. On September 4, the Netherlands will face Probierz’s team in the World Cup qualification in De Kuip, provided he is still in charge then. The coach has been the head coach of Poland since 2023.