What does it take to be considered the greatest in your position or the greatest overall player? I will be making the case for Robert Lewandowski as the greatest striker.
Robert Lewandowski- The Greatest
In a cruel twist, the Poland striker was denied a very likely Ballon D’or in 2020 due to Covid -19. 2019/20 was a season that saw Lewandowski make history as Bayern Munich won the Treble, and he won the Golden Boot in all three competitions, with a remarkable 55 goals in 47 games.
This was followed this very season with 48 goals in 40 games in all competitions which included a staggering 41 goals in 29 games in the Bundesliga.
So let’s go over the numbers, between 2019 and 2021 Robert Lewandowski has scored an incredible 103 goals in just 87 games. If these statistics alone aren’t enough to convince you that Lewandowski is the greatest striker then we will start at the very beginning.
Early Years
Lewandowski started his senior career in 2005 with Delta Warsaw, scoring 4 goals in his opening season. In 2006–07, Lewandowski was the Polish third division’s top goalscorer with 15 goals, helping Znicz Pruszków win promotion.
In 2007-2008 he was the top scorer in the Polish second division with 21 goals. Lech Poznan signed Lewandowski for the 2009 season for 1.5m PLN, he finished the season with 18 goals in 42 matches.
The following season, Lewandowski became the top scorer with 18 goals and helped his team win the 2009–10 championship.
The Big Move
Lewandowski was about to join Premier League club Blackburn Rovers in 2010, but the volcanic ash clouds caused by the 2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull, which suspended all flights in and out of the UK preventing him from travelling and the deal failed to materialise.
This lead to Robert Lewandowski eventually joining Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund in June 2010, signing a four-year contract with the German club for a fee reported to be worth around €4.5 million.
Borussia Dortmund
The 2010–11 season saw Lewandowski profit from an injury to finally cement his place in the line-up in his lowest return of 33 games and 8 goals.
2011–12 season Lewandowski never looked back with an impressive 34 games and 22 goals proving himself as a legitimate threat up top.
Lewandowski continued his form into the 2012–13 season with 31 games and 24 goals, at this point, there were already some big suitors following the Pole closely which leads into his final season at Dortmund.
The 2013–14 season saw Lewandowski in 33 games return 20 goals resulting in the next big step, after a successful 131 games and 74 goals.
Bayern Munich
Robert Lewandowski was officially presented as a Bayern Munich player on 9 July 2014. He finished the season with 25 goals in 49 appearances.
2015-2016 season saw Lewandowski become the first foreign player to score 30 goals in the Bundesliga, and the first player since Dieter Müller in 1976–77 and secured him the Torjägerkanone for the second time in three seasons.
A famous achievement this season saw the Polish striker step off the bench at half-time against Wolfsburg to score all Bayern’s goals during a 5-1 comeback win. Lewandowski scored the quickest Bundesliga hat-trick (four minutes), then set a new record for four goals in the same match and then did likewise for five. An incredible 5 goals, in just 9 minutes of play.
He finished the season with 42 goals in 51 matches.
2016-2017 saw Lewandowski hammer home 42 goals in 47 matches.
2017–present has been a onslaught of goals and has saw Four consecutive Golden Boots and a Sextuple win.
Lewandowski Bayern career to date sits at 203 goals in 219 games.
Poland
Ask any Polish fan and no doubt that will agree Robert Lewandowski is the greatest striker, he has very much carried the nation with 67 goals in 121 appearances for Poland.
So in his ongoing career, Lewandowski has converted 351 goals in 455 games at club level with an additional 67 goals in 121 appearances for his country giving us an incredible 576 games with 418 goals.
Not to mention the endless amount of golden boots and trophies to his name, Robert Lewandowski is a once in a lifetime type of talent and agree or disagree as to if he is indeed the greatest striker? we should all appreciate the opportunity we have been given to witness his greatness.
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Main Image Credits- Embed from Getty Images
