In Europe’s defensive series, the 36-year-old still spreads fear and terror. But a black spot remains in his career. Goals and progress against BVB should help to remove it.
A short pie, Niko Kovač no longer came out of the raving. “To say words” about Robert Lewandowski, was actually “not necessary,” said Borussia Dortmund coach before the second leg in the Champions League quarter-finals against FC Barcelona (Tuesday, 9 p.m. in the T-Online Liveticker). Dortmund’s trainer did it anyway.
“He is a great professional. I saw many, many good ones too,” said Kovac. “But he? He lives, he eats, he drinks like a professional, he does everything so that he is physically fit.” If you hug the double scorer of the first leg (0: 4), notice: “Boah, that’s Adonis!”
And he prefers to meet his ex-club BVB: 29 times in 28 games since his farewell from Dortmund 2014.
At 36, Lewandowski achieved almost everything that can be achieved as a football professional. An end is still not in sight. Barça’s center forward is currently hitting the Champions League like on the assembly line. Thanks to its goals, the Catalans still have the chance of the triple: championship, Copa del Rey and Champions League.
The more goals and titles are, the higher the likelihood that the former Bayern scorer will have an award that has been missing so far: the prestigious balloon d’Or, the largest individual award in European football. Lewandowski already won the choice of FIFA World Footballer (2020, 2021).
The golden ball, which is traditionally organized and forgiven by the French football magazine “France Football” at the end of October, has so far been denied to him. Will his lifelong dream come true in high football age?
The competitors are no longer called Messi and Ronaldo, but Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Jr. and Lamine Yamal, his not even half the old teammate. The real stars are behind Barça in the league and in the Champions League, the permanent winner is in front of the first leg 0: 3 at Arsenal.
In addition, there is no World Cup or EM this year. At the big tournaments, Lewandowski with Poland always had to let other nations advance. Therefore, with regard to the balloon d’Or: if not now, when?
In the ranking of the best strikers in Europe, only Liverpools Mohamed Salah is located in front of the Poland, who netted 25 times in the league. In total, the striker has scored 31 goals in 33 competitive games in the current season.
His trainer Hansi Flick recently raved: “Like Cristiano Ronaldo, he has an outstanding physique. He is very professional and does everything to call up the optimal performance.”
Lewandowski’s Bachelor thesis: “RL9. The way to fame”
And even if, despite all the hymns of praise, goals and possible titles with the last missing title, it shouldn’t work again: Lewandowski has enough confidence to get over this. At least this is evidenced by the fact that he wrote the final thesis of his bachelor’s degree in 2017. The title was: “Rl9. The way to fame.” He is already certain – whether with or without a balloon d’Or.