'Mission complete': Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski to leave club at end of season

[p]The veteran Polish forward, 37, scored 119 goals for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a] in 191 games across all competitions since joining from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bayern-munich/nVp0wiqd/"]Bayern Munich[/a] in 2022.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lewandowski-robert/MVC8zHZD/"]Lewandowski[/a] helped Barca to three La Liga titles, including this season's trophy, and the Copa del Rey in 2025.[/p][p]"After four years full of challenges and hard work, it's time to move on," said Lewandowski in a post on Instagram.[/p][p]"[b]I leave with the feeling that the mission is complete. Four seasons, three championships[/b]."[/p][p]The forward joined with Barca at a low ebb and struggling financially, helping restore them to the Spanish throne and also compete for the Champions League.[/p][embed guid="d4efc54e-a771-4350-b859-5dbf47bf09d6" url="https://x.com/FCBarcelona/status/2055606916944986580" social-type="twitter" /][p]"Barca is back where it belongs," continued Lewandowski.[/p][p]"[b]I will never forget the love I received from the fans from my very first days. Catalonia is my place on earth[/b]."[/p][p]Lewandowski will play for the last time at Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium on Sunday against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/betis/vJbTeCGP/"]Real Betis[/a], with coach Hansi Flick confirming he will start.[/p][p]"[b]He spoke with the team, said goodbye, and that it was a great time for him here in Barcelona[/b]," said Flick, who also coached Lewandowski at Bayern Munich.[/p][p]"I've worked with Robert now for years, and we won together nine (trophies), all the titles I've won were with him.[/p][image alt="Lewandowski stats in LaLiga this season" id="0ae422e2-b620-4a08-a764-5e840a803deb" credit-line="SOPA Images, SOPA Images Limited / Alamy / Profimedia / Opta by StatsPerform" guid="30a2a5df-ff75-481f-9ece-71c1b029c9fb" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]"[b]For me it's a privilege to work with him. He's a professional player... every day he gave the best with his body to be at the highest level[/b].[/p][p]"[b]He's a perfect role model for young players... this is why he's still playing at this level[/b]."[/p][p]Flick said Lewandowski was a "fantastic human, but also a world-class player".[/p][p]"[b]Thank you, Robert Lewandowski, for every goal, every (bit of) fight, and every magical moment wearing these colours[/b]," said Barcelona on social media. "He[b] arrived as a star, he leaves as a legend[/b]."[/p][p]Lewandowski is one of the most prolific strikers of his generation and finished as LaLiga's top scorer in his debut campaign under Xavi Hernandez.[/p][embed guid="419a621a-93a3-4312-bb31-4eb38a4ec760" url="https://x.com/FCBarcelona/status/2055620973097820517" social-type="twitter" /][p]This season, Flick rotated him up front with Spain international [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/torres-ferran/AVAVLaLt/"]Ferran Torres[/a], with Lewandowski scoring 18 goals in 44 games.[/p][p]The striker did not confirm his next destination but has been linked with clubs in Saudi Arabia and the United States.[/p]