Poland players back the decision to strip Lewandowski of captaincy | OneFootball

Poland striker Robert Lewandowski has been in the public eye after announcing his resignation from the national team on Sunday.

The shock retirement followed head coach Michal Probierz’s decision to remove the Barcelona centre-forward from captaincy, electing Inter Milan midfielder Piotr Zielinski in his place.

Lewandowski took to social media to insist that he will not play again for Poland as long as Probierz is in charge.

“Taking into account the circumstances and a loss of trust in the coach, I have decided to resign from playing for the Poland national team for as long as he remains in charge,” read Lewandowski’s statement (h/t BBC Sport).

“I hope I will still have another chance to play again for the best fans in the world.”

A new report from Diario Sport claims that Polish players are standing by the head coach’s decision. It indicates a potential rift between Lewandowski and his teammates.

Having been the face of the Polish national team for more than a decade, Lewandowski would be utterly disappointed with the latest happenings.

Despite not winning a major trophy at the international level, the legendary striker holds the record for most goals (85) and most appearances (158) for Poland.

The 36-year-old may be in his twilight, but his prolific form at the club level shows that he is still indispensable to Poland heading into next year’s World Cup.

Poland players feel that Lewandowski has been prioritising his club duties ahead of the national team.

The former captain also opted out of the ongoing international break, citing the reasons of fatigue following a long season with Barcelona.

Probierz is expected to answer questions about Lewandowski’s situation at a press conference on Monday ahead of the World Cup Qualifying game against Finland.

Lewandowski had a stellar 2024/25 season, bagging 42 goals in all competitions and inspiring Hansi Flick’s side to a domestic treble.