Robert Lewandowski's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A closer look at the biggest achievements of Robert Lewandowski. Awards, milestones, and records that define success.

Robert Lewandowski is a highly acclaimed Polish professional footballer, currently a striker for Barcelona and captain of the Poland national team. Widely regarded as one of the best strikers in history, he boasts a prolific career, particularly notable for his success in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich. Lewandowski has scored over 700 senior career goals, establishing himself as a dominant force in the world of soccer.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1968: New Bundesliga record

On January 17, 2021, Lewandowski became the first player in Bundesliga history to score 21 goals after just 16 games – a new Hinrunde record, beating Gerd Müller's 20 goals during the 1968–69 season.

October 1969: Most consecutive Bundesliga home matches

On September 18, 2021, Lewandowski scored in his 13th consecutive Bundesliga home match against VfL Bochum, surpassing the previous league record of 12 held by Gerd Müller (October 1969 to April 1970) and Jupp Heynckes (June 1972 to February 1973).

April 1970: Most consecutive Bundesliga home matches

1971: Gerd Müller's Bundesliga Record

In 1971-72, Gerd Müller set the previous Bundesliga record of 40 goals.

1971: Broke Gerd Müller's record

On May 22, 2021, Lewandowski broke Gerd Müller's record of 40 goals in the 1971–72 season with a 90th-minute goal in Bayern's 5–2 win over Augsburg to reach his 41st goal on the final day of the season.

June 1972: Most consecutive Bundesliga home matches

February 1973: Most consecutive Bundesliga home matches

1996: First Barcelona player to score more than 30 goals across all competitions

On May 14, 2023, he scored two goals as Barcelona defeated Espanyol 4–2, confirming them as La Liga champions. He was the first Barcelona player to score more than 30 goals across all competitions in his debut season since Ronaldo Nazário in 1996–97.

2006: Polish Third Division Top Goalscorer

In 2006–07, Robert Lewandowski was the Polish third division's top goalscorer with 15 goals, helping Znicz Pruszków win the promotion.

2008: Equalling a record

In UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying, Lewandowski ended the campaign with 13 goals, equalling a European Championships qualifying record with David Healy.

2009: Ekstraklasa Win

In 2009, Robert Lewandowski helped Lech Poznań win the 2009–10 Ekstraklasa.

2009: Bayern became the second club ever (after Barcelona in 2009) to win the sextuple

On February 11, 2021, he won the FIFA Club World Cup 2020 with the club after 1–0 win against Mexican top-flight club Tigres in the final, as Bayern became the second club ever (after Barcelona in 2009) to win the sextuple.

July 2013: Won the 2013 DFL-Supercup with Dortmund

On July 27, 2013, Robert Lewandowski won the 2013 DFL-Supercup with Dortmund, 4–2, against Bayern Munich.

2013: Bundesliga Top Goalscorer

Robert Lewandowski ended the 2013–14 season as the top goalscorer in the Bundesliga with 20 goals.

February 2014: Top Scorer in European Competition

On February 25, 2014, Robert Lewandowski scored twice in the Champions League round of 16 first leg against Zenit Saint Petersburg, becoming Dortmund's overall top scorer in European competition.

March 2014: UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador

In March 2014, Lewandowski was named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and visited a refugee camp in Zaatari, Jordan, taking part in the "Voice of the Children" campaign.

September 2014: First international hat-trick

On September 2014, in Poland's first UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier against Gibraltar, Lewandowski scored his first international hat-trick, netting four goals in a 7–0 win.

June 2015: Hat-trick against Georgia

On June 2015, Lewandowski scored another hat-trick in Poland's 4–0 defeat of Georgia, with the three goals scored within four minutes.

September 2015: Bundesliga record: Five goals in nine minutes

On September 22, 2015, Lewandowski set a Bundesliga record by scoring five goals in 8 minutes and 59 seconds against Wolfsburg after coming on as a substitute, leading Bayern to a 5–1 victory. He was awarded four certificates by Guinness World Records for this feat.

2015: IFFHS Award

In 2015, Robert Lewandowski won IFFHS World's Best International Goal Scorer Award.

2015: Five Goals in Nine Minutes

In 2015, while playing for Bayern, Lewandowski scored five goals in less than nine minutes against VfL Wolfsburg, earning him four Guinness World Records.

2015: Reached fourth place at the 2015 FIFA Ballon d'Or awards

On January 11, 2016, Lewandowski achieved fourth place at the 2015 FIFA Ballon d'Or awards.

May 2016: Bayern confirmed as champions of Germany

On May 7, 2016, Lewandowski scored both goals for Bayern in a 2–1 win against Ingolstadt to confirm the Bavarian club as champions of Germany for the fourth consecutive season. A week later, he scored his 30th goal of the season in Bayern's final league match of the season at home to Hannover 96. This made him the first foreign player to score 30 goals in the Bundesliga, the first player since Dieter Müller in 1976–77, and secured him the Torjägerkanone for the second time in three seasons.

2016: Qualification for the tournament finals in France

In 2016, Lewandowski scored twice in a 2–2 draw against Scotland and headed the winner in a 2–1 victory against the Republic of Ireland, qualifying Poland for the tournament finals in France. He ended the campaign with 13 goals, equalling a European Championships qualifying record.

March 2017: Reached 100 goals for Bayern

On March 11, 2017, Lewandowski reached 100 goals for Bayern in his 137th appearance for the club, scoring twice in a 3–0 victory against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.

October 2017: Poland's all-time top scorer

On October 2017, Lewandowski scored a hat-trick in a 6–1 win over Armenia to become Poland's all-time top scorer, surpassing the previous record of 48 goals. He also scored in a 4–2 win over Montenegro.

2017: Scored against Köln and equaled Heynckes' record

Lewandowski continued his top scoring form in the 2017–18 Bundesliga. On December 13, 2017, he scored against Köln, reaching Bundesliga's top ten goalscorers of all time. Later, he equaled the record of scoring in 11 successive home games in a single season, also held by then Bayern manager Jupp Heynckes.

2017: Won the 2017 DFL-Supercup

The season began with Bayern Munich winning the 2017 DFL-Supercup against Borussia Dortmund. Lewandowski scored the opening goal for Bayern in the match which ended 2–2 after extra time. Bayern eventually won 5–4 in the penalty shootout.

February 2018: Poland's Footballer of the Year for the seventh time in a row

On February 11, 2018, Lewandowski was voted Poland's Footballer of the Year for the seventh time in a row. On February 22, he fired his long-time agent, Cezary Kucharski. On February 24, he played his 250th Bundesliga game against Hertha Berlin.

2018: European World Cup qualifier record

In 2018, Lewandowski finished the FIFA World Cup qualification campaign with 16 total goals, a record for a European World Cup qualifier.

2018: Equalling a record achieved by Messi

In 2018, Lewandowski reached 16 goals in his first 16 La Liga matches, equalling a record achieved by Messi during the 2018–19 season.

February 2019: Scored his 100th goal at the Allianz Arena

On February 9, 2019, Lewandowski scored in a 3–1 win over Schalke 04 and became the first player to score 100 competitive goals at the Allianz Arena. His goal was also his 119th league goal for Bayern Munich, which saw him draw level with Roland Wohlfarth as the club's third-highest goalscorer of all-time.

2019: Bundesliga's top goalscorer and DFB-Pokal Final

In 2019, Lewandowski finished the league campaign as the Bundesliga's top goalscorer with 22 goals. On May 25, 2019, he scored a brace as Bayern won against Leipzig 3–0 in the DFB-Pokal Final. He became the all-time top scorer in the DFB-Pokal finals with six goals.

2019: Scored in the DFB-Pokal, extended contract, and set Bundesliga records

In 2019, Lewandowski scored his first goal of the season against Energie Cottbus in the DFB-Pokal on August 12. On August 16, he scored two goals in the Bundesliga opener. On August 24, he scored a hat-trick against Schalke. On August 29, Lewandowski extended his contract at Bayern until 2023. On November 26, Lewandowski scored 4 goals in under 15 minutes as Bayern defeated Red Star Belgrade 6–0.

2019: UEFA Champions League Win with Bayern Munich

In 2019, Robert Lewandowski was integral in Bayern Munich's UEFA Champions League win as part of a treble.

February 2020: Equalled Cristiano Ronaldo's record

In February 2020, Lewandowski equalled Cristiano Ronaldo's record of nine away goals in a single season in Europe's top club competition.

2020: FIFA Men's Player and UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award

In 2020, Lewandowski won the Best FIFA Men's Player Award and the UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award.

2020: FIFA Club World Cup win

In 2020, On February 8, Lewandowski scored a brace in a 2–0 win over Al Ahly in the 2020 FIFA Club World Cup semi-finals and on February 11, won the FIFA Club World Cup 2020 with Bayern.

2020: Best Player Recognition

In 2020, Robert Lewandowski was widely considered the best player, deserving of the Ballon d'Or, until it was canceled.

2020: Named The Best FIFA Men's Player 2020

In 2020, after winning the treble with Bayern Munich and his performances in the tournaments, Lewandowski was named The Best FIFA Men's Player 2020 on December 17, becoming the first Polish player to win the award.

2020: UEFA Euro 2020

In June 2021, during UEFA Euro 2020, Lewandowski scored for Poland.

January 2021: New Bundesliga record

On January 17, 2021, Lewandowski became the first player in Bundesliga history to score 21 goals after just 16 games – a new Hinrunde record.

June 2021: UEFA Euro 2020

On June 2021, Lewandowski scored the equalising goal in Poland's second group match of UEFA Euro 2020 against Spain, becoming the first Polish player to score in three consecutive European Championships. He scored a brace against Sweden but Poland was knocked out.

November 2021: Ballon d'Or Runner-Up

On November 30, 2021, Robert Lewandowski finished second in the Ballon d'Or, behind Lionel Messi.

2021: Scored in seven consecutive Bundesliga opening games

In 2021, Lewandowski kicked off his 2021–22 Bundesliga season with a volley-shot equaliser in a 1–1 opening fixture draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach on August 13, making him the first player to score in seven consecutive Bundesliga opening games.

2021: IFFHS Awards

In 2021, Robert Lewandowski won IFFHS World's Best International Goal Scorer Award, IFFHS World's Best Top Goal Scorer Award, and IFFHS World's Best Top Division Goal Scorer Award.

2021: Fastest player to 80 UCL goals

In 2021, on November 21, Lewandowski became the fastest player to score 80 UCL goals in 100 appearances. On November 23, he became the first player to score in nine consecutive games in two separate seasons of the competition. Midway through the season, Lewandowski finished second in the 2021 Ballon d'Or award, behind Lionel Messi and received the Striker of the Year award by the France Football magazine. On December 17, Lewandowski set the Bundesliga record for most goals in a calendar year with his 43rd goal. He became the second player, after Cristiano Ronaldo, to be the top goalscorer for club and country as a player playing in Europe for three consecutive years.

January 2022: Scored his 16th hat-trick and 300th Bundesliga goal

On January 15, 2022, Lewandowski scored his 16th hat-trick and 300th Bundesliga goal in a 4–0 away win over Köln.

2022: Signing with Barcelona

In 2022, Robert Lewandowski was signed by Barcelona, where he won the Supercopa de España, the La Liga title and the Pichichi Trophy in his debut season.

2022: Won first Pichichi Trophy

In 2022-2023 La Liga season, Lewandowski won his first Pichichi Trophy with 23 goals in 34 matches, becoming the first player in top 5 European leagues to get top scorer award in six consecutive seasons.

January 2023: Won first title with Barcelona

On January 16, 2023, Lewandowski scored the second goal in the 2023 Supercopa de España final, as Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 3–1 in El Clásico, winning his first title with the club.

September 2023: Reached 100 goals in UEFA competitions

In September 2023, on September 19, Lewandowski scored his 100th goal in UEFA competitions during Barcelona's 5–0 win over Antwerp, becoming only the third player to reach this milestone. On September 23, he scored a brace to help Barcelona overturn a two-goal deficit in a 3–2 home victory against Celta Vigo, becoming the best scorer in first 50 matches for the club in 21st century.

February 2024: Achieved milestone in major European leagues

On February 17, 2024, Lewandowski became the most successful footballer in terms of the number of goals scored (407) over the past decade in the top five major European football leagues. On February 22, he scored his 93rd Champions League goal.

October 2024: Champions League and La Liga goals

On October 2024, Robert Lewandowski scored against his former club Bayern Munich in the Champions League and also scored twice in Barcelona's 4–0 win against Real Madrid. He was then named La Liga Player of the Month for the third time.