# Robert Lewandowski

Robert Lewandowski (born 21 August 1988) is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a striker for German footbal club Bayern Munich and is the captain of the Poland national team.

## Quotes

* I thought that if I changed the things I did, it could help me play at a higher level for longer. I knew I could not expect immediate results. I did it because I had to try. I knew if I started at the top level a little later, I could be there for longer.
* The professional player in me came out. The button changed from off to on, and I saw the difference between playing for fun and playing to win. You have to choose whether to have fun or whether to compete.
* You can think: I have scored once, it’s enough,” he said. “You can lose focus, start freestyling. Or you can think I have scored once, so maybe I can score another. Is one enough, or do you want more? You need the button.
** "The Making of a Goal Machine" (May 8, 2021)
* It's all about the balance of the team. That's the most important point, nothing else. For that reason, it's easy for me to adapt to several different styles of play. I know I have to adapt and play for the good of the team. For me, being a strong striker is not only about being a good goalscorer.
* You might be surprised to find this out, but sweets were a big problem for me when I was younger. It didn't matter what it was, I couldn't walk past it without buying it. Now I've cut sweets out. It actually took me several years to get to this point. Now I don't really like sweets anymore.
** "Lewandowski exclusive, pt II: 'We're stronger now'" (2016)
* I remember exactly. When I was six years old, there was only one idol for me: Roberto Baggio! Alessandro Del Piero later became my role model in football, and I admired him. However, I was not yet able to judge exactly what characterizes his style of play, I was just too young for that.
** "Robert Lewandowski discusses his early footballing idols in interview with Lothar Matthäus" (March 17, 2021)
* If you see what we did in this run it is amazing, spectacular — because we won everything that we could. This is something special.... All of these awards are the prizes for something special.
* If I win something, I’m very proud and very happy but I cannot get it. … Someone made the decision like that and life goes on.
** "AP Interview: Lewandowski reflects on award-winning season" (November 23, 2020)
* For sure, as the captain, it’s something bigger. The expectation is higher. Playing for the national team is a responsibility.
* I score so many goals, this means a lot. I know I will always be a little bit behind and I have to maybe work harder than those players for my country if we want to achieve something. It’s not an easy job for me, but I’m not afraid. I’m not afraid. It’s a big chance.
* My body is my work. You have to be patient. Maybe you don’t see the difference after a few months, but after a few years you will see why you can play longer and stay on a higher level longer.
** "Robert Lewandowski, a force for Bayern Munich, faces an uphill climb with underdog Poland" (June 16, 2021)
* A record is always something special for every athlete. And these 40 goals are so legendary that I still do not fully understand that I am on a par with such a legend as Gerd Müller. However, I wanted to break this record and surpass it by at least one goal. This step was my goal. But 40 goals make me proud of myself. I could not have dreamed that in one season you can score so many goals.
* I cannot yet assess the significance of this achievement for my future life. Even a 40-goal moment is already something special. Until now, it was simply unthinkable for me that I would be able to reach this mark, although I always give my all until the end of the season to see what the final result will be. I was aware of the debate about whether I was worthy of surpassing the historical record of Gerd Müller or not.
** "Kicker interviewing Robert Lewandowski, more egoist, than team player" (May 28, 2021)
* You don’t have much time. If you think too long or too much, sometimes that is wrong. If you have one idea and know it from the first minute, do it. Shoot. I had so little space in the box. Think too much, the defender comes to block you.
* Everything you do before the game, the routine is also important to keep the high-level concentration. The brain gets the information that something important is coming. He asked what I do. I said: ‘I don’t know, I do a few things.’ But before the next game I was more focused. Every time I put the left boot on first.
* Before I had a lot of problems with my body language – being more a part of the game and training. My body language was the same. Sometimes you have to be more angry. For me that was never going to happen.
* Sometimes you have to be there waiting for the ball and if you get it once in the 90 minutes you have to be ready. But I say: ‘I want to be part of the team, of the game, I want to move and pass and not just wait for the ball.’ That’s why I am always looking for space to get the ball and find my teammates. I can work on everything still. But one thing? Maybe to shoot from distance.
** "Robert Lewandowski: 'I still believe Bayern will win the Champions League final'" (February 21, 2020)
* Playing in the USA? I don't know because I don't know what does it mean for me and when. For sure, I know a lot about the MLS because a few Polish players and also German players was playing there, and they talk to me about the life but also about MLS and they make every year a step up. It means they want to be better and I don't know what does it mean exactly for me but I would say I'm very happy to be [at Bayern] and I don't think about so long future.
** "Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski talks potential MLS move, Alphonso Davies' "amazing potential"" (February 24, 2021)
* My parents took my ambitions seriously. They took an hour each way to training. They were waiting for me, and when I wanted to go home alone, I took the bus from Warsaw to Leszno for two hours. When I was late, I had to seize an opportunity, sometimes someone took pity and took me away.
* Money is important, but I didn't get carried away because ... I remember what it was like not to have the basics. However, I am glad that I was able to fulfill my childhood dreams.
** "Trzeba czasem zdjąć zbroję. Wywiad z Robertem Lewandowskim" (August 25, 2020)

## About Robert Lewandowski

* How he pushed himself to become the player he is today, that’s extraordinary. He took every step he needed to be that goal machine. Every one.
** Jürgen Klopp, "The Making of a Goal Machine"
* Lewandowski is one of the best strikers, if not the best striker, in the world.
** Milan Škriniar, "Robert Lewandowski, a force for Bayern Munich, faces an uphill climb with underdog Poland"
* He is the most professional player I have ever met. He is always there, never injured, because he focuses on these things. He always knows what is important to be in the best condition. But I was always very, very pleased with him, from the first moment [we met].
** Pep Guardiola, "Lewandowski: ‘Lionel Messi’s successor’ was hailed by Pep Guardiola and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp thinks he’s unbelievable"
* He is the complete striker that I often compare to – since I was myself a striker – to a phenomenon that I played against many times myself. ​Marco van Basten. At my time, Marco van Basten was the most complete forward in the world, in the late 80s and early 90s. And I think Robert Lewandowski put his stamp on the last decade like nobody else.
** Jürgen Klinsmann, "Lewandowski: ‘Lionel Messi’s successor’ was hailed by Pep Guardiola and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp thinks he’s unbelievable"
* Technically he was always great, now he also has that cool head. The way he scored the goals is phenomenal. For me he is the best and most complete striker in the world at the moment.
** İlkay Gündoğan, "Lewandowski: ‘Lionel Messi’s successor’ was hailed by Pep Guardiola and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp thinks he’s unbelievable"
* He showed his quality again, although he does not have to prove his class to anyone. We have to see that he is at 100 per cent, and then he is enormously important to us. And that’s why the club are not letting him go.
** Thomas Müller, "Lewandowski: ‘Lionel Messi’s successor’ was hailed by Pep Guardiola and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp thinks he’s unbelievable"
* Lewi has the most incredible body, it is just pure muscles. It just stuns the other players in the changing room.
** Nuri Şahin, "Lewandowski: ‘Lionel Messi’s successor’ was hailed by Pep Guardiola and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp thinks he’s unbelievable"