Goal machine Lewandowski still ambitious
Champion of Germany and DFB Cup winner with the team, plus top goalscorer in the Bundesliga and in the cup competition as well as in second spot in the Champions League behind Lionel Messi – Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski can be more than happy looking back at the campaign just gone. "In the end it was a very good season," said the German record champions’ striker immediately after winning the double last weekend with the victory over RB Leipzig at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.
The striker netted a brace in the 3-0 win against the Saxony side in the final – goals number five and six in cup finals and no other player has scored as often. The previous record holders Gerd Müller and Uwe Seeler scored five. With a total of seven goals in the competition, Lewandowski was the top goalscorer in the cup for the third time in succession and the fourth time overall. No other player can equal that either.
The 30-year-old secured the top goalscorer award in the Bundesliga the week before. His tally of 22 was enough to make him number one for the fourth time following on from 2014 (20), 2016 (30) and 2018 (29). Only Gerd Müller has achieved that more often in the 56 years of the Bundesliga. "It's a great honour for me to be behind that great legend. He's done it seven times so I have a bit to go," said Lewandowski.
Following in the footsteps of Gerd Müller
"It would be difficult to win it without my team-mates. The goalscorer award belongs to the whole team," said Lewandowski in the knowledge that he could not have achieved that success on his own before adding: "Thanks to the team." In the all-time rankings in the Bundesliga, the striker is in fifth place with 202 goals in 289 games. Only the late Manfred Burgsmüller (217), the former Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes (220), Klaus Fischer (268) and 'Bomber' Müller scored more.
Lewandowski is now third in the FCB rankings with 128 goals. Only Müller (365) and the chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (162) are ahead of the best current Bundesliga goalscorer at Bayern. There is no sign of Lewandowski's scoring feats coming to an end. "I've years left in my career. I’ve still got work to do," declared the striker whose contract at FC Bayern runs to the summer of 2021.
Before Lewandowski and his family set off on a well-deserved summer holiday, there are two international fixtures to complete. Poland lead Group G in the qualifiers for Euro 2020 with two wins from two games. The captain and – of course – the record goalscorer for Poland will be looking to extend that run in the games against North Macedonia (7 June) and Israel (10 June). Lewandowski will definitely endeavour to contribute one or two more goals.