After sealing World Cup spot, Gyökeres sparks surprise farewell | OneFootball

Sweden’s victory over Poland (3-2), thanks to Viktor Gyökeres, prevented Robert Lewandowski, Barcelona’s striker, from taking part in what would very likely have been his third and final World Cup. And, in that same vein, the Pole’s social media post suggests it may have been the last match he played for his country.

After the defeat, Lewandowski shared something cryptic on Instagram that sparked doubts about his future with the national team. The player posted a photo of himself greeting the fans, with a visibly dejected expression, accompanied by the song 'Time To Say Goodbye', by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman, without any additional text.

The musical choice - 'Time to say goodbye' in Portuguese - was quickly interpreted in Poland as a sign of farewell to the national team. However, after the match, the Blaugrana striker, who will turn 38 in August, clarified that he has not yet made a final decision.

"I don’t know, first I have to think about a few things and reflect. I can’t make any statement at this moment. I will return to the club, I still have a few games left to play this season. Today, I certainly have some doubts in my mind and, above all, I will have to be the one to answer them," the player said in comments to TVP Sport.

Lewandowski, whose contract with Barcelona expires on June 30, stressed the need for careful consideration: "I need to think calmly and we’ll see what happens afterwards," he added, also lamenting the goal conceded in the dying seconds, scored by the former Sporting player, which "hurts a lot".

Finally, the Polish captain left a word of thanks to the fans who travelled to the Strawberry Arena in Sweden: "I know it is just as difficult for them as it is for us. On behalf of the whole team, it was a source of pride that they were with us today. They made themselves heard throughout the entire game".

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.