Robert Lewandowski no longer needs ninety minutes to leave his mark. At 37, with his contract winding down and his role reshaped under Hansi Flick, the Polish striker keeps doing the one thing that complicates
every internal discussion at the club: scoring.
His goal in the Spanish Super Cup final against Real Madrid was just another reminder. The movement between the center backs, the timing of the run, the calm finish over Thibaut Courtois after Pedri’s pass. It was all classic Lewan-goal-ski.
It was also his fourth goal in a Super Cup final since arriving in 2022, a competition he seems to treat as personal territory. Three Super Cups, two league titles and a Copa del Rey later, he has reached 111 goals in a Barcelona shirt and is now ten away from breaking into the club’s top ten scorers, all-time.
The only thing that has changed with his advanced age is his place in the rhythm of matches. Flick has been willing to sit him down. Lewandowski has already watched three games this season from the bench without playing a minute and has come on nine times as a substitute. A muscle injury earlier in the campaign forced caution from the boss, but rotation has also been a deliberate choice, especially with Ferran Torres thriving in the same role. But the numbers simply refuse to align with the idea of decline. Ten goals in just over 1,000 minutes. One goal roughly every 100 minutes. Last season was even sharper: 42 goals, one every 93.5 minutes.
Being on the bench often has not slowed him down. He did not play a single minute in the Super Cup semifinal and still started and scored in the final. He came off the bench in the league derby against Espanyol and decided the game in the closing moments. According to Marca, Lewandowski has not challenged Flick over his reduced minutes and has accepted the situation without tension. After lifting the Super Cup, he summed it up simply: “we won the Super Cup as a team.”
Inside the dressing room, that attitude matters. Flick recently went further, stating, “I have never had a professional like him.” Scenes in training, from his constant interaction with Pedri and Ferran to his role welcoming Bardghji, point to a player who understands the moment he is in and is not fighting it.
The uncertainty, however, is real. Lewandowski’s contract expires on June 30 and his salary remains one of the highest in the squad. According to AS, Saudi Arabia is emerging as a serious option if he leaves, driven by both sporting interest and financial power. MLS clubs, including Chicago Fire, have also made inquiries, though their offers fall well short of Saudi figures. Lewandowski himself insists no decision has been taken and that discussions with Flick will be key, repeating that “the future is still open.”
Lewandowski plays less, but scores faster. He no longer dominates every lineup, but still decides finals. As the season heads toward its decisive stretch, his goals may yet define another title run.
