Robert Lewandowski – Barcelona’s ageless goal machine leading the title charge | OneFootball

From Zlatan Ibrahimović to Luis Suárez, from Samuel Eto’o to David Villa, FC Barcelona have been blessed with some of the greatest centre-forwards in football history. The latest legendary striker who’s making an impact at the club is none other than Robert Lewandowski.

Lewandowski burst onto the scene in Germany for Borussia Dortmund and then Bayern Munich, where he would link up with current Barcelona manager Hansi Flick.

In Lewandowski’s first season under Flick, he scored 55 goals and 10 assists in 47 appearances as Bayern took European football by storm. In doing so, he became the second player in history after Johan Cruyff to win a European treble, finishing as top scorer in all three competitions.

The following season would see him rack up 48 goals and nine assists in 40 appearances and break Gerd Müller’s 49-year record for the most goals in a single Bundesliga season (48).

He continued his red-hot form under Julian Nagelsmann by firing in 50 goals and 7 assists in 46 appearances in 2021/22, before deciding to depart Germany after a legendary 12-year spell.

Lewandowski traded Bavaria for Catalonia, joining Barcelona on a four-year deal for a fee of €45 million, potentially rising to €50 million with add-ons.

The fiery start followed by the dip

It didn’t take long for him to make an impact, registering six goals in his first five league matches and becoming the first Barcelona player to score over 30 goals in his debut season since Ronaldo in 1996/97.

All in all, Lewandowski won the Pichichi award with 23 goals in 34 league matches, becoming the first player in Europe’s top five leagues to finish as top scorer in six consecutive seasons.

The 2023/24 season, however, would mark a slight decline in results: after providing 33 goals and 8 assists in 46 appearances in 2022/23, Lewandowski struggled and managed just 26 goals and 9 assists in 49 appearances.

Lewandowski went through a dip in his second season at Barcelona. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Barcelona fans began to wonder whether they should give new signing Vítor Roque a chance in the first team or take a gamble on their up-and-coming La Masia youngster Marc Guiu. Instead, Roque was loaned out to Real Betis whilst Guiu was sold to Chelsea.

Barcelona, meanwhile, were able to complete just two signings between Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor. Víctor has chipped in 2 goals and 1 assist in 259 minutes, but he has never been given the opportunity to challenge Lewandowski for a starting spot.

The resurgence under Hansi Flick

Barcelona appointed Flick in the summer, a move that worked wonders for Lewandowski’s development.

The Polish striker scored four goals in his first four matches under Flick, finding the back of the net with regularity and even grabbing a brace in their 4-0 beatdown of Real Madrid in El Clasico.

Capable of holding up the ball with his back to goal, attracting opponents, freeing up space for his teammates, and putting his poaching skills to good use, Lewandowski quickly reminded fans of why he is one of the greatest strikers of the 21st century.

However, after bagging a brace in their 3-0 win against Brest, Lewandowski went through a bit of a dry spell. He managed just one goal in his next six matches – with the exception of a brace against fourth-tier UD Barbastro – before chipping in with a goal and assist in their 5-2 win against Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup.

Thanks to this victory in Saudi Arabia, Lewandowski was able to get his mojo back and start firing on all cylinders again: he bagged a brace in their comeback win against Benfica before grabbing a goal apiece in their next three league matches vs. Valencia, Alavés and Sevilla.

Lewandowski is hitting his stride for the Blaugranas and showing that he can still deliver the goods – even if that hasn’t quite been the case at the international level.

Poland’s all-time leading scorer and captain has scored just one goal in his last four matches (a penalty vs. Scotland), whilst he hasn’t scored a non-penalty goal for them since November 2023.

“There were times with the national team where he was incredible, but now, he’s finding it hard carrying the team, even though he’s still scoring goals and leading LaLiga’s top scorers chart,” stated Polish-born USMNT international Janusz Michallik (h/t RG).

“However, there’s still that casual fan who believes that Lewandowski is going to carry the Poland national team, which obviously hasn’t been the case in a long time,” added Michallik.

“Lewandowski needs the other players to put in the service and create chances for him, which isn’t happening at the moment.”

Not getting younger but still going strong

Lewandowski has rediscovered his form under Flick. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

At nearly 37 years old, there have been times when Lewandowski has looked his age.

Despite having a week’s rest, he was kept under wraps in their 1-1 draw at Getafe on January 18 and proved to be a passenger throughout. He completed eight out of 11 passes, lost possession 11 times, and won just two out of nine ground duels.

The veteran striker spurned a golden opportunity to restore Barcelona’s lead before halftime, with his miscued header sailing marginally wide.

In general, he seemed to be a fish out of water and was unable to make a difference against a Getafe side that was all too comfortable to sit back and defend deep.

He isn’t as self-sufficient of a striker as he once was and needs Raphinha and Lamine Yamal to carve out chances for him to finish, he struggles to track back and lead the press, and his declining speed has proven to be an issue going up against high-pressing sides like Atalanta.

Unable to exploit the copious amounts of space left in behind the defence, Lewandowski registered just one shot vs. Atalanta (which was blocked) and failed to make his mark before coming off after 69 minutes for Ferran Torres.

Nevertheless, the fact remains that Lewandowski is still one of the best strikers in Spain. He leads La Liga for goal contributions (21), Expected Goals (19.3), Expected Goals per 90 (0.99), Expected Goals and Expected Assists per 90 (1.05) and Expected Goals on Target (19.4), whilst only Endrick (1.00) is averaging more Goals per 90 than him (0.97).

Lewandowski may be frustrating at times and squander gilt-edged chances – only Kylian Mbappe (18) has missed more big chances than him (16) – but he’s still proven instrumental in Barcelona’s resurgence under Flick.

With a contract that’s set to expire in June 2026, Barcelona are going to have to come to a decision soon: should they sell him this summer and try to splurge on an elite, young centre-forward like Alexander Isak or Viktor Gyökeres? Or, should they renew his contract and focus on other pressing matters like a winger or a defensive midfielder?

Whatever the solution may be, it cannot be denied that Lewandowski has made a positive impact both on and off the pitch, with his annual salary set to reduce from €32 million to €26 million for the 2025/26 season, alleviating financial pressure and giving Barcelona some much-needed breathing room in the transfer market.

The Culés finished with the second-best record in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League with 19 points from 8 matches, whilst they have also booked their ticket to the Copa del Rey semifinals, where they will face Atletico Madrid.

Having beaten Rayo Vallecano on Monday, they have leapfrogged Atleti and Real Madrid to go from third place to first place in La Liga. Now, if they are to go all the way in all the competitions, they’re going to need a massive performance from their Polish talisman.

After scoring against Rayo on Monday, Lewandowski sits atop the La Liga scoring chart with 20 goals and is on track to surpass Lionel Messi for the most top scorer awards in Europe’s top five leagues with a record ninth Golden Boot.