Putting the ball into the back of the net is one of the hardest jobs in football.
However, throughout the history of the beautiful game, there have been prolific players who have earned glory through their ability to be lethal in front of goal.
Many win accolades and are talked about as ‘The Greatest of all Time”. Other prolific players may not be given the credit they deserve. One of those players is veteran Poland and Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski.
Lethal for over a decade and a half
The Polish international forward has been unbelievably prolific in front of goal for club and country for over a decade and a half.
The 36-year-old forward has scored at least 14 goals in every campaign since breaking into the Znicz Pruszkow first team in the Polish second tier in season 2006/07.
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That is consistency in front of goal that very few players in the history of the game have achieved. Only the best players to ever grace a pitch reach those levels, and even some of those haven’t got the goalscoring record of the Polish forward.
At the time of writing, Lewandowski has scored 607 goals in 849 appearances. Are there many players out there who can match that tally in the elite game?
Why isn’t he considered one of the Greatest Players of All Time?
So, undoubtedly, a player with those stats must be considered one of the greatest of all time. Well, Lewandowski is never talked about when the conversation is had about the greatest footballers the game has ever seen.
The big issue is that maybe he is seen as ‘Just a goalscorer’, which is a strange phrase when you think about it. Scoring goals is one of the most important facets of the game.
That’s why prolific strikers tend to cost big money when they shine and move on to another club. Maybe the reason that Lewandowski is not considered one of the greatest players in football is perception.
Many don’t see Lewandowski as a glamorous player. He is not as skilful as some of his counterparts. That means he can be overshadowed. His work ethic and composure in front of goal have made him a success.
He has played for some of the world’s biggest clubs, like Bayern Munich and Barcelona, and consistently delivered in front of goal.
Yet people tend to talk more about his teammates than the striker. For example, in season 2024/25, Lewandowski scored six goals in his opening seven appearances in all competitions for Barcelona.
However, many observers seem to be talking about the impact of highly talented young Catalan winger Lamine Yamal instead of the veteran’s stellar start to the campaign.
It’s not surprising that the youngster is talked about so much, as at 17 years of age he is one of the best young players in the world. He will inevitably receive such acclaim.
It shouldn’t be a case of out with the old and in with the new, just because Yamal is young and exciting to watch. Admittedly, Yamal has played a part in Lewandowski’s solid record in the campaign.
However, the Polish veteran shouldn’t be forgotten about in the midst of ‘Yamal Mania’.
Lewandowski has been recognised with honours in the game, but they have generally involved his ability to find the net rather than his all-around ability or performances.
He won the Ballon d’Or Striker of the Year in 2021 and 2022 while also winning the Golden Shoe in seasons 2020–21 and 2021–22.
They are just some of the awards the forward has picked up during his long and illustrious playing career. One award that is conspicuous by its absence is the Ballon d’Or.
For many, the forward should have won the award in 2020. As he has stated himself, he enjoyed one of the best years of his football career in that particular year.
The Polish star was the favourite to win the award, as he had plundered 55 goals in 47 games in all competitions. In the years 2020 and 2021, he scored 100 goals in 85 appearances.
However, due to the global pandemic, the Ballon d’Or wasn’t awarded that year. Lewandowski also finished as runner-up to Argentinian great Lionel Messi in 2021, which, for some, was a controversial decision.
The player himself has even stated that he felt like he deserved the award. With many players, that would be considered arrogance, but Lewandowski has always come across as a humble guy.
The fact that the forward has been involved with philanthropy throughout his career doesn’t suggest that he is the sort of person who would be arrogant or self-promoting in an egotistic way.
Lewandowski is one of the greatest strikers of all time
Time is running out for Robert Lewandowski to win the Ballon d’Or in his career. However, if, as expected, he never wins the award, then he will at least be safe in the knowledge that he will go down as one of the greatest strikers of time.
When we talk about strikers, goal records tell no lies, and he is up there with the German great Gerd Muller when it comes to the best number nines the game has ever seen.
Robert Lewandowski is underrated 💙❤️🔥. This stats are wild bro… pic.twitter.com/QLwM0M8z3a
— Lewan (@jhude__) September 13, 2024
He may never win the Ballon d’Or despite his best efforts. Still, when he retires from the game, he will have earned the respect and admiration of all the clubs he has represented, even if some BVB fans are still bitter about his move to Bayern.
His goals have helped Dortmund, Bayern Munchen and Barcelona to numerous trophies.
His effect on the game as a whole may well be underestimated now, but maybe history will look back on Robert Lewandowski’s career and state that he was, in fact, underrated in his own time.