Poland’s all-time leading goal scorer Robert Lewandowski has decided not to play for the national team as long as Michał Probierz remains head coach. The 36-year-old striker made this announcement on social media, stating that he has lost trust in the current coaching setup.
Lewandowski, who has played 158 matches for Poland and scored 85 goals, has not been included in recent international matches. His absence raised questions, and now he has made his stance clear.
The Polish Football Association (PZPN) confirmed that coach Michał Probierz recently appointed Piotr Zieliński, a midfielder from Inter Milan, as the new captain of the national team. This decision was formally communicated to Lewandowski and the rest of the squad.
Following the announcement, Lewandowski posted on social media:
“Due to the situation and the lack of trust in the coach of the Polish National Team, I decided to resign from playing in the Polish National Team until he is the coach. I hope that I will be able to play for the best fans in the world again.”
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. 🇵🇱
— Robert Lewandowski (@lewy_official) June 8, 2025
The Polish FA also announced that coach Probierz will speak at a press conference on Monday. He will be joined by Zieliński, the newly appointed captain, and will address questions from the media regarding the current situation within the team.
Michał Probierz took charge of Poland’s national team in September 2023. However, the team had a poor run in Euro 2024, finishing at the bottom of their group and exiting the tournament early.
Despite the Euro disappointment, Poland has made a strong start to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, winning both of their first two matches and currently sitting at the top of their group. Notably, the Netherlands are in third place in the same group.
