Robert Lewandowski hits century milestone for Barcelona against Athletic Club | OneFootball

When Robert Lewandowski swapped Bayern Munich for FC Barcelona in 2022, it was a bold move for a player already deep into his 30s. The Polish striker sought a fresh challenge, while the Catalan giants needed a seasoned No. 9 to guide their youthful squad. At first glance, it looked like a perfect match and in many ways, it still does.

Since moving to Spain, the 36-year-old has had mixed fortunes at Barcelona. He started off in his first season in excellent form but his second season left a lot to be desired. However, in a true legend’s fashion, he bounced back in his third season at the club.

Goal machine

So far, during his time wearing the Red and Blue of Barcelona, Lewandowski has played 147 games, including the ongoing game against Athletic Club at San Mames. Before this game, he had scored 99 for the club and was looking for the elusive 100.

Against the Basque club, the Pole wasted no time in reaching the milestone with a delicate chip over Unai Simon to give Barcelona a 1-0 lead. Soon after, Lewandowski showed how good a poacher he is, finding himself in the right place at the right time to head home for his side’s 2nd.

This means that as of the first half against Athletic Club, Lewandowski has 101 goals for Barcelona. The 36-year-old is still going strong despite his age, and he looks set to stay and contribute to Hansi Flick’s team for the 2025/26 season.

It is not easy to move to a new country and adapt and start playing for a new club late into your career but that is exactly the risk that Lewandowski took when he moved to Barcelona. It is fair to say that it has paid off, thus far.

What does the future hold for Robert Lewandowski? (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

What next?

At Bayern, the Pole had the world under his feet. He was very close to winning the Ballon d’Or in 2020, but the award was called off due to COVID-19. It would have been easy to stay at the Bundesliga club and see out his playing days.

How much longer Lewandowski can perform at this level remains to be seen. With next season set to be his final one under contract at Barcelona, fans will hope the prolific Pole can keep finding the net in Blaugrana colors. His journey in Spain has already proven that age is just a number when class and determination lead the way.