Robert Lewandowski might have played his last international game after Poland suffered a devastating defeat to Sweden in their 2026 World Cup playoff final.
Despite putting in an impressive performance, Poland fell to a bitter 3-2 defeat against Sweden. The squad had kept their hopes alive just five days earlier with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Albania.
It was an emotional moment for Lewandowski as the final whistle blew in Solna. The 37-year-old captain broke down in tears.
With new generation of players making their way to the national team, speculation regarding Lewandowski’s future was quickly intensified by a poignant update on social media.
Distant from his usual focused sporting posts, he shared an Instagram story featuring the iconic song “Time to Say Goodbye” by Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli. The choice of music sparked immediate debate among fans, many of whom interpreted the track as a symbolic farewell to the international stage after 165 appearances.
The defeat in Sweden likely represents the final time he will walk off the pitch with World Cup qualification on the line.
Robert Lewandowski looks dejected following the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Sweden and Poland. (Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images)
Following the game, Lewandowski spoke to Polish broadcaster TVP Sport, admitting he is facing question marks about his continuity with the national side.
Lewandowski stated: “I don’t know what’s next. I have to think about a few things, reflect. I am not able to make any declaration. I’ll go back to the club, I still have a few games to play. There are question marks in the back of my head and I will have to answer them myself. This is not a declaration, but the way the fans cheered us on and believed. I know it’s hard for them too, just like it is for us. The worst feeling will be tomorrow when we wake up and ask ourselves what happened yesterday. That will be the saddest moment, a sense of disappointment. I don’t wish that on anyone. We will have to realise that we didn’t qualify for the World Cup.”
