Robert Lewandowski goals are the gift that keeps on giving. Since moving to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2014, the Polish centre-forward has shown that he belongs in the conversation about the best strikers ever.
With an insane 295 goal tally, he is the second-best goalscorer in the history of the Bundesliga, only behind Gerd ‘Der Bomber’ Müller and his 365 goals.
Lewandowski’s 2020-2021 season was impressive even for his standards. He scored 41 goals in the Bundesliga alone, having played only 29 games.
He averaged one goal per 60 minutes, being the lead actor in Bayern’s comfortably title win last season. Add seven more goals in international competition and that makes it an astonishing 48 in just 40 games.
Lewandowski’s monumental campaign won him the Golden Shoe award, given to the top scorer across Europe’s best leagues. Some fans still believe he was snubbed from the 2021 Ballon d’Or, which was given to PSG’s Leo Messi two weeks ago.
What is next for Robert Lewandowski?
Lewandowski’s famous hunger makes him a heavy favourite for next year’s awards. He shows no signs of slowing down. He has already scored 29 goals this season, including nine in the Champions League.
But enough about next year. There’s still one more record that Lewandowski can break in the remaining two weeks of 2021.
The Polish superstar is only one goal away from equalling Cristiano Ronaldo’s highest goal tally in a calendar year. The Portuguese number seven scored 69 goals in 2013 – the season that would end in his first Champions League title with Real Madrid.
Ronaldo vs Lewandowski: an overlooked rivalry
Much has been said about the rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi. However, the Portuguese superstar also has a history with Lewandowski.
While playing for Borussia Dortmund in 2013, Lewandowski scored four goals in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals against Real Madrid. Dortmund would advance to the final game against Lewandowski’s future team Bayern.
Ronaldo took his revenge in 2017 with two goals in extra time of the second leg in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, with Madrid going on to win the competition.
We all know about Ronaldo’s nervous competitiveness. It’s only fair to assume that he is well aware of Lewandowski being only two goals away from surpassing his mark.
Lewandowski only has one shot at outperforming Ronaldo. Bayern play a home game against Wolfsburg on Friday, 17th December, at 19.30 and then break for Christmas.
It should be a comfortable win for Bayern, who are cruising their way into another title with 40 points after 16 games. Wolfsburg have been average this season. They are currently 11th, four points behind the sixth spot that would make them participate in European competition next year. However, they’re also only four points ahead of the battle for relegation.
Robert Lewandowski goals against Wolfsburg are a sure bet. He has found the back of the net 18 times against them. Remember when he scored five goals in nine minutes back in 2015? That was against Wolfsburg.
A brace on Friday would bring Lewandowski’s tally to 70 goals. It would be the second-highest goal-scoring mark in a calendar year this century, only behind Messi’s unreal 91 goals in 2012.
All eyes will be on Lewandowski this Friday evening.
And yes, that includes Ronaldo’s.
Featured image credit: Getty
