Heartbroken Barcelona veteran opens up on international retirement after World Cup dream collapse | OneFootball

Robert Lewandowski endured a crushing night as Poland were eliminated from World Cup qualification following a dramatic defeat to Sweden. 

The Barcelona forward saw his hopes of playing on football’s biggest stage slip away in the final moments, with Viktor Gyokeres scoring the decisive goal.

The result leaves serious questions around Lewandowski’s international future, especially at 37, after a remarkable career that includes 89 goals for Poland. 

Speaking after the match, the striker admitted uncertainty about what lies ahead.

“I don’t know yet,” he said.

The game itself was an emotional rollercoaster for Poland. They showed resilience by fighting back twice, but ultimately fell short in the closing stages. 

A heartbroken Lewandowski

Lewandowski did not hide his frustration while reflecting on how the match unfolded and how close they were to forcing extra time.

After the final whistle, Lewandowski addressed the pain of the defeat and the cruel nature of football, explaining how the result felt particularly harsh given the team’s effort.

“It’s hard to say anything after a game like this. I don’t know if the words I find would reflect how we feel. Soccer can be cruel. 

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Robert Lewandowski (@_rl9)

“You can play well, come back twice, and end up empty-handed. For a fan, that’s the worst feeling. It hurts because we were so close. 

“That third goal was the worst. If there had been extra time, our chances would have increased with every minute. 

“We believed we could beat them, whether in the second half or in extra time,” Lewandowski said.

Retirement coming?

The emotional impact of the defeat was further highlighted by a post Lewandowski shared on social media shortly after the match. 

The Barcelona striker uploaded a message alongside a song titled “Time To Say Goodbye,” which immediately sparked speculation about his retirement from international football.

When asked directly about the post and his future with the national team, Lewandowski chose to remain cautious, making it clear that no decision has been made yet.

“What will I do? I don’t know. I need to think it through and reflect. I can’t make any statements. I’ll go back to the club. 

“I still have a few games left to play. This post isn’t a statement,” clarified the Barcelona forward.