Robert Lewandowski (Part 1)

Robert Lewandowski, born on August 21, 1988, is a Polish professional footballer renowned for his role as a striker. He currently plays for La Liga club Barcelona and captains the Poland national team. Widely regarded as one of the best players of his generation and among the greatest strikers in football history, Lewandowski has achieved numerous accolades throughout his career.Lewandowski began his professional journey in Polish football, showcasing his talent with Znicz Pruszków, where he emerged as the top scorer in both the third and second tiers of Polish football.
He later moved to Lech Poznań, helping the team secure the 2009–10 Ekstraklasa title.


In 2010, Lewandowski made a significant move to Borussia Dortmund, where he enjoyed tremendous success, winning two consecutive Bundesliga titles and earning the league's top goalscorer award. He also played a pivotal role in Dortmund's journey to the 2013 UEFA Champions League Final.Ahead of the 2014–15 season, Lewandowski joined Bayern Munich on a free transfer.
During his tenure at Bayern, he won the Bundesliga title in each of his eight seasons with the club. Notably, he played a key role in Bayern's UEFA Champions League triumph in 2019–20, contributing to a treble-winning season. Lewandowski's remarkable feat of being the highest goalscorer in all three competitions during the European treble has only been achieved by him and Johan Cruyff.


Lewandowski's dominance continued in the subsequent seasons, earning him recognition as one of the best players in the world. He became the top goalscorer for both club and country in Europe for three consecutive years (2019–2021), a feat matched only by Cristiano Ronaldo. Despite being widely considered the best player in 2020, the Ballon d'Or ceremony was canceled that year.
In 2022, Lewandowski signed with Barcelona, where he made an immediate impact by winning the Supercopa de España, the La Liga title, and the Pichichi Trophy in his debut season. He holds numerous records, including the joint-record for most top scorer awards in Europe's top five leagues alongside Lionel Messi.


Internationally, Lewandowski has represented Poland since 2008, earning 146 caps and becoming the all-time top scorer for the national team with 82 goals. He has participated in multiple UEFA European Championships and FIFA World Cups, showcasing his talent on the global stage.
Throughout his career, Lewandowski has received numerous individual awards, including the Best FIFA Men's Player Award, UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award, and multiple Polish Footballer of the Year titles. He has left an indelible mark on football, solidifying his legacy as one of the sport's greatest strikers.


Lewandowski made his debut for Lech on 17 July 2008, coming on as a substitute in the first leg of the UEFA Cup qualifying match against Khazar Lankaran from Azerbaijan. He made an immediate impact by scoring the only goal of the match in the 75th minute at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium. In his Ekstraklasa debut during the first game of the season against GKS Bełchatów, Lewandowski scored a memorable heel flick goal just four minutes after coming off the bench in the late second half. In his first season in the Polish top division, he finished as the second-highest goal scorer with 18 goals in 42 matches.
Additionally, he contributed to Lech's success by scoring in a 1–1 away draw against Wisła Kraków in the 2009 Polish Super Cup on 27 July, and converting his attempt in the subsequent penalty shootout. The following season, Lewandowski emerged as the top scorer with 18 goals and played a crucial role in helping Lech win the 2009–10 championship.


In 2010, there were potential opportunities for Lewandowski to move to the Premier League club Blackburn Rovers, as mentioned by English coach Sam Allardyce. However, the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland led to volcanic ash clouds that suspended all flights in and out of the UK, along with other financial concerns, which ultimately prevented the transfer from materializing.
Additionally, Lewandowski was reportedly close to joining the Italian club Genoa, but the transfer was canceled by president Enrico Preziosi.
Amidst speculation about his potential transfer to several clubs, Robert Lewandowski joined Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund in June 2010, signing a four-year contract with the German club for a reported fee of around €4.5 million. He made an immediate impact by scoring his first Bundesliga goal on 19 September, helping Dortmund secure a 3–1 victory over Schalke 04 in the Revierderby


In the 2011–12 Bundesliga season, Lewandowski capitalized on an injury to Lucas Barrios, securing a regular spot in the starting lineup. He showcased his scoring prowess by netting twice in Dortmund's 3–0 DFB-Pokal first-round win over Sandhausen. Lewandowski opened his league account with a goal against Nürnberg on 20 August 2011 and went on to score a hat-trick in Dortmund's 4–0 win over Augsburg on 1 October.
He also notched his first Champions League goal in a 1–3 defeat to Olympiacos on 19 October. Lewandowski's consistent performances helped Dortmund climb to second place in the Bundesliga, with notable contributions including a brace against Köln and a hat-trick against Freiburg.


After the winter break, Lewandowski continued his impressive form, scoring twice and providing an assist in Dortmund's 5–1 thrashing of Hamburg on 22 January 2012. He played a crucial role in Dortmund's victory over Bayern Munich on 11 April, which gave them a six-point lead in the title race.
Lewandowski provided an assist in Dortmund's 2–0 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach on 21 April, securing their second consecutive Bundesliga title. He finished the season as the third-highest goal scorer in the Bundesliga with 22 goals and contributed to Dortmund's domestic double by scoring a hat-trick in the DFB-Pokal Final, a 5–2 victory over Bayern Munich.Lewandowski's outstanding performances earned him the title of Footballer of the Year in Poland and solidified his reputation as one of the top strikers in European football.

References

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