Robert Lewandowski refuses to play for Poland under current coach

Poland’s all-time top scorer Robert Lewandowski has announced he will not play for the national team as long as coach Michał Probierz is in charge.

Lewandowski, who is 36 years old, has scored 85 goals in 158 matches for Poland. But he hasn’t been part of the team in recent international games.

According to the Polish Football Association, coach Probierz recently told the team that Inter Milan midfielder Piotr Zieliński will be the new captain. Lewandowski and the rest of the squad were informed about this decision.

After that, Lewandowski shared a post on social media saying:

“Because of the current situation and my lack of trust in the coach, I’ve decided not to play for the national team while he is still in charge. But I hope to return in the future and play again in front of our amazing fans.”

The Polish Football Association also said that coach Probierz will speak at a press conference on Monday, along with the new captain Zieliński, to answer media questions.

Probierz became head coach in September 2023, but under his leadership, Poland finished last in their group at Euro 2024 and were the first team to be knocked out.

However, in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Poland has started strong with two wins in two games, and they are currently top of their group. The Netherlands are in third place.