Robert Lewandowski Unhappy Over Loss of Poland Captaincy

Robert Lewandowski expresses disappointment and hurt over losing Poland captaincy to Piotr Zielinski under coach Michal Probierz. Read more about the controversy.

Robert Lewandowski expressed deep disappointment and hurt over losing the Poland captaincy, feeling betrayed by coach Michal Probierz's handling of the situation. The decision to replace him with midfielder Piotr Zielinski prompted Lewandowski to announce on social media that he wouldn't play for Poland under Probierz's leadership.

Robert Lewandowski's Reaction to Losing Poland Captaincy

Statement on Losing Captaincy

Poland's record goalscorer, Robert Lewandowski, expressed feeling betrayed and deeply hurt by the manner in which coach Michal Probierz informed him of his replacement as team captain. Lewandowski, who had held the captaincy since 2014, was notified over a phone call, which he felt was an inappropriate way to handle such a significant decision.

❗️🚨 Robert Lewandowski's statement after announcing he will not return to the Poland NT as long as Michal Probierz is still the manager:

"I received a surprise call from coach Michal Probierz informing me that he had decided to strip me of the captaincy. I wasn’t prepared for… pic.twitter.com/kfzSgXGiZT

— The Touchline | Football Coverage (@TouchlineX) June 9, 2025

Decision to Step Back from National Team

In response to losing the captaincy, Lewandowski announced on social media that he would no longer play for Poland as long as Probierz remains the coach. He stated, “Considering the circumstances and the loss of trust in the Polish national team coach, I have decided to step back from playing for the Polish national team as long as he remains the coach.” Lewandowski hopes to have the chance to play again for the Polish national team in the future, citing his love for the fans.

Appointment of New Captain

Michal Probierz has appointed midfielder Piotr Zielinski as the new captain of the Polish national team. The decision was communicated to Lewandowski, the team, and the training staff by Probierz himself. Lewandowski's absence from the current squad, citing physical and mental exhaustion after a demanding season, adds complexity to the situation.

Robert Lewandowski revealed to (link unavailable) that he was blindsided by coach Michal Probierz's decision to strip him of the captaincy. “I wore the armband for 11 years, and I've been playing in the national team for 17,” Lewandowski said, expressing his disappointment after receiving a brief call from Probierz while putting his kids to bed, only to see the news break on the Polish football federation's website soon after.

🚨 OFFICIAL: Robert Lewandowski announces that he will not play for Poland again as long as the Poland coach Michał Probierz is in charge. pic.twitter.com/GV3Qzc00V5

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 8, 2025

“It seemed to me that such matters should be handled differently... we have an important match ahead of us, and everything was communicated over the phone. This is really not how it should be. The coach betrayed my trust.”

Lewandowski expressed deep hurt over the way he was informed about losing the captaincy, despite the national team always being a top priority for him. He emphasized feeling “very hurt” by the communication approach. Meanwhile, coach Michal Probierz is set to address the situation at a press conference. Notably, Lewandowski is currently absent from the Poland squad due to physical and mental exhaustion following a demanding season.

The 36-year-old, Poland's record scorer with 85 goals in 158 appearances, had led the team as captain since 2014. After Fernando Santos' dismissal, Probierz took over as manager in 2023 and guided Poland to Euro 2024, where they were eliminated in the group stage. Poland recently beat Moldova 2-0 in a friendly and now prepare to face Finland in a World Cup qualifier.