Barcelona to Poland: Why I Made Poland My Home | Europe’s Growth Champion

Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski has explained his recent relinquishing of penalty-taking duties for the club, attributing the decision to a lack of consistent playing time and the resulting impact on his confidence. The revelation came during Poland’s international duty preparations, as reported on March 23, 2026.

Lewandowski, who joined Barcelona in the summer of 2022 after eight years with Bayern Munich, acknowledged that his diminished role in the starting lineup has affected his rhythm and decision-making in crucial moments. He specifically cited instances where hesitation crept in during penalty attempts against Sevilla and Atletico Madrid earlier this season, leading to missed opportunities. Following those misses, teammates Lamine Yamal and Raphinha have taken on penalty responsibilities.

“When a player sometimes plays and sometimes doesn’t, there’s a lack of confidence in key moments because you don’t feel the pitch, you’ve just come on, or you haven’t played in the last two or three games,” Lewandowski told reporters. “Sometimes there’s a moment of hesitation. We make these decisions on the pitch. We have people who are good at taking penalties. I’m always ready, but You’ll see times when you’ve spent less time on the pitch, you lack the feel and rhythm. In those moments, it’s better to prioritize the team’s best interests, and someone who feels more confident in a given match takes the penalties. This wasn’t due to missed penalties, but to my situation and the minutes I spent on the pitch.”

Despite the shift in penalty duties, Lewandowski remains a significant goal threat for Barcelona, having scored 16 goals in all competitions this season as of March 23, 2026. He is currently with the Poland national team, preparing for a World Cup qualifier against Albania on Thursday. Lewandowski captains the Poland national team and is widely regarded as one of the greatest strikers of all time, having scored over 700 senior career goals for club and country. He ranks third for the all-time top goalscorers in the UEFA Champions League with 107 goals.

Barcelona’s official website highlights Lewandowski’s goalscoring prowess and his ability to link up play both inside and outside the box. The club describes him as bringing “goals, experience and know-how” to the attack. He is among the top five leading goalscorers in Champions League history and second on the list for the Bundesliga.