90min

Robert Lewandowski 'proud' to have played at the same time as Lionel Messi & Cristiano Ronaldo

  • Lewandowski has played during the same era as two of football's greatest ever forwards
  • Achievements of Messi and Ronaldo have often overshadowed that of the Pole
  • Barcelona star admits he feels proud to have played with the goalscorers

By Katie Catherall

Lewandowski has been forced to compete with two of the best strikers
Lewandowski has been forced to compete with two of the best strikers / Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images | Boris Streubel/Getty Images
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Robert Lewandowski remains one of the greatest strikers in the world, but his career has been somewhat overshadowed by the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Argentine hero Messi spent 17-years with Barcelona, becoming a club legend after netting 672 goals for the Catalan giants. He lifted ten La Liga titles, four Champions League trophies and eight Spanish Super Cups before leaving to join Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.

Manchester United and Real Madrid star Ronaldo achieved three Premier League titles with the Red Devils and became a four-time Champions League winner with Madrid. The striker netted 450 goals in 438 appearances for Los Blancos and continues to break records in the Saudi Pro League with Al Nassr.

Current Barca goalscorer Lewandowski spent most of his career in the Bundesliga. His 344 goals for Bayern Munich arrived in just 375 games, while eight of his ten German league titles came while on the books at the Bavarian side.

But, despite the constant comparisons to some of the greatest players in the game, Lewandowski has admitted that he's proud to have played shared the same stage as Messi and Ronaldo.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi
Messi and Ronaldo are regarded as two of the best players of all time / GERARD JULIEN/GettyImages

"I have been playing football in the same era as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo," he told The Athletic. "I think I've been close to that elite level in some moments and even beat them in different games. I think we can say I was around!

"It means a lot if you get close to guys like this. It makes me very proud to see that in the era of Messi and Ronaldo, sometimes, Lewandowski also managed to break some records and make an impact."

Still continuing to impress in La Liga, Lewandowski has netted 19 goals in 17 appearances this season for Barca. He sits ahead of Ballon d'Or runner-up Vinicius Junior in the league's list of top goalscorers, despite never winning the game's most coveted individual prize himself.

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