Robert Lewandowski Quits Poland National Team After Captaincy Row.
In a dramatic turn of events, Robert Lewandowski, Poland’s record goalscorer and one of the nation’s most celebrated footballers, has announced he will no longer play for the national team whilst Michal Probierz remains manager. The shock declaration came shortly after the Barcelona striker was stripped of the captaincy on Sunday, a role he had held since 2014.
The Polish Football Federation (PZPN) confirmed the change in leadership, stating, “By decision of coach Michal Probierz, Piotr Zielinski became the new captain of the Polish national team.” The statement added that Probierz “personally informed Robert Lewandowski, the entire team and the training staff of his decision.”
Lewandowski, 36, who has netted 85 goals in a record 158 appearances for Poland, responded swiftly via social media. In a post on Sunday, he wrote, “Biorąc pod uwagę okoliczności i utratę zaufania do selekcjonera Reprezentacji Polski postanowiłem do czasu kiedy jest trenerem zrezygnować z gry w Reprezentacji Polski. Mam nadzieję, że będzie dane mi jeszcze zagrać dla najlepszych kibiców na świecie. 🇵🇱” Translated to English, this reads: “Given the circumstances and the loss of confidence in the coach of the Polish National Team, I have decided to resign from playing for the Polish National Team as long as he is in charge. I hope I will still have the chance to play for the best fans in the world.”
The decision to remove Lewandowski as captain in favour of Inter Milan midfielder Piotr Zielinski has sparked controversy. Reports suggest tensions between Lewandowski and Probierz, who took over as manager in 2023, had been brewing. The striker, absent from the current squad due to physical and mental exhaustion following a demanding season with Barcelona, expressed feeling “betrayed and hurt” by the manner of the decision, particularly after a brief phone call from Probierz whilst he was putting his children to sleep, according to an interview with Polish outlet wp.pl.
Probierz, speaking at a press conference on Monday ahead of Poland’s World Cup qualifier against Finland, defended his approach, calling the phone call “natural” and describing the timing of such decisions as “always very difficult, especially since he is an outstanding player.” He added, “I decided that this is a good time for a change.” Zielinski, 31, expressed pride in the honour but declined to comment on Lewandowski’s decision.
The move has divided opinion. Some reports claim the Polish squad applauded Probierz’s decision to strip Lewandowski of the armband, suggesting underlying discontent with the veteran striker’s choice to skip the June camp. However, Lewandowski’s stellar record and leadership over a decade have left many fans stunned and saddened by the rift.
With Poland topping their World Cup qualifying group after two wins, the absence of their talismanic striker raises questions about the team’s future. Whether this marks the end of Lewandowski’s illustrious international career remains uncertain, but for now, a storied chapter in Polish football has taken a bitter turn.
