Robert Lewandowski is still going. At 37 the Polish striker is still scoring at Barcelona, and he arrives at the 2026 World Cup hoping to prove he can deliver on the biggest stage. Like good wine, he has aged well. Poland live and die by him, and this may be his last chance to leave a mark on a World Cup.
The other key names are Nicola Zalewski and Piotr Zieliński. Poland sit around 28th in the FIFA ranking.
Is Poland more than Lewandowski?
A little. Zieliński brings creativity and experience from Inter Milan's midfield, and he is a classy operator in tight spaces. Zalewski gives them pace and energy on the wing from his time at Roma, which adds a modern threat on the flanks. The defensive organisation has improved noticeably, and Poland are harder to break down than they were.
Still, the centre of everything is Lewandowski. He has more than 600 career goals and is one of the finest strikers the game has seen. He can score against anybody. His leadership and his hunger to finally perform at a World Cup should push this squad beyond what it looks capable of on paper.
The plain version is this. When Poland play at a World Cup, it is effectively the Lewandowski show. If he scores, Poland win. If he doesn't, Poland go home. At 37 this is a farewell tour, and he will want to give it everything.
Tomorrow: number 22.
