Not every athlete manages to stay at the pinnacle of their sport indefinitely, but some rare exceptions consistently defy the odds. Robert Lewandowski stands as one of these remarkable individuals.
Surpassing Veteran Legends
After three impactful seasons with FC Barcelona, having joined from Bayern Munich in 2022 at the age of 33, he has already amassed an astounding 101 official goals for the Catalan giants. Last season alone, he netted an impressive 42 goals across all competitions, concluding the La Liga campaign with 27 precise finishes at the age of 36 years, 9 months, and 3 days. He narrowly missed out on the coveted Trofeo Pichichi by just four goals, a margin largely due to Kylian Mbappé’s penalty conversions. When comparing Lewandowski’s recent season with the historical records of Europe’s oldest top goal-scorers, the Polish striker has truly outshone them all. His 27 goals in 34 La Liga matches during the 2024/25 season (assuming the text refers to the past completed season, as the current one is 2025/26) surpass the achievements of several legendary veterans:
- Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria, 2018/19) with 26 goals at 36 years old.
- Luca Toni (Verona, 2014/15) with 22 goals at 38 years old.
- Ferenc Puskás (Real Madrid, 1963/64) with 20 goals at 37 years old.
This remarkable feat means that even if Lewandowski was “only second” to Mbappé in the top scorer race, his season would still stand as one of the most impressive in history for a veteran forward.
Outperforming Younger Rivals
Beyond his veteran peers, Lewandowski also continues to hold his own against younger generational rivals. Looking at players over 30, his 42 goals in all competitions left behind significant names such as:
- Harry Kane (41 goals) – despite being younger at 32 years old.
- Mohamed Salah (34 goals).
- Ante Budimir (24 goals).
- Edin Džeko (21 goals).
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (21 goals).
Other well-known strikers like Ciro Immobile (19 goals), Luuk de Jong (18), Raúl Jiménez (14), Romelu Lukaku (14), Pedro Rodríguez (14), and Iago Aspas (10) lagged even further behind, highlighting Lewandowski’s exceptional output.
Age? Just a Number for Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski is set to begin preparations for his fourth season at FC Barcelona in just a few days, with his 37th birthday approaching in August. Was his €45 million (plus €5 million in bonuses) transfer from Bayern Munich worth the investment? The answer, unequivocally, is yes. Despite the common prejudices surrounding age in professional football, Lewandowski consistently proves that his innate goal-scoring instinct shows no signs of waning.
He has already triumphed in three personal battles against time – and there’s every reason to believe that the fourth will also end in his favor. His continued performance solidifies his status as one of football’s most enduring and prolific strikers.
