For the first time in his career, Robert Lewandowski has been repeatedly substituted and even benched, a sign that the Polish striker's role at Barcelona is clearly changing.
At 37 years old, Robert Lewandowski remains one of the top strikers for Barcelona and La Liga.
At 37, Robert Lewandowski remains one of Barcelona's and La Liga's top strikers. However, recent weeks have marked a rare turning point in the Polish forward's career: he is no longer an "untouchable" name in the starting lineup.
Lewandowski is accustomed to playing every game. At Bayern Munich, and before that at Borussia Dortmund, he was almost a guaranteed starter if fit. His numerous individual accolades, including multiple Bundesliga top scorer awards, the Pichichi award in his first La Liga season, and two European Golden Boots, have helped Lewandowski maintain his irreplaceable position for over a decade.
At Barcelona, in his first two seasons (2022/23 and 2023/24), Lewandowski didn't miss a single La Liga match. But this season, after 18 rounds, things are different. He was benched twice for the entire duration of the season against Betis and Osasuna, played only 28 minutes against Villarreal, and for the first time, was substituted in multiple consecutive matches.
The main reason stems from coach Hansi Flick's cautious personnel management. Lewandowski is experiencing minor issues with his hamstrings and lower back. Flick doesn't want to take risks, avoiding letting these small aches develop into serious injuries. Despite reduced playing time, Lewandowski's performance remains consistent with 8 goals in La Liga, second only to Ferran Torres in Barca's scoring list.
Lewandowski's changing role also stems from the squad depth. Ferran Torres has been given the central striker position on several occasions and has responded with impressive form. The Valencia striker has scored 11 goals in the domestic league and is leading the "Zarra Trophy" race, creating real competition for the number 9 spot.
Although no longer "untouchable," Lewandowski remains a crucial element in Flick's plans. The rotation is primarily aimed at preserving his fitness for the crucial period. However, this also makes his future at Camp Nou less certain. Lewandowski's contract expires next June, with an option to extend it for another season until 2027.
Barcelona appreciates the professionalism and contributions of the Polish striker, but remains cautious about his age. With many European clubs, along with teams from Saudi Arabia and the MLS, closely monitoring Lewandowski's future promises to be a story that will require more time to decide.