Co-host or secondary interviewer (3:07)

And who asked you to come in and be this bad teacher?

Robert Lewandowski (3:11)

Before I joined to Barcelona, when I was talking with the people from Barcelona, you know, they told me, yeah, we need someone like you. That mentality physically also is very strong. And show them that to be on the top is not only one, two or three season, but also what you're doing off the pitch is very important. So I know that I can do this. But later when I met the people, when I saw it, the culture is different than Germany, I started learning from them also, like, you know, to empathy everything what is around the football and helps me a lot as well.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (3:48)

Yeah, so you were lacking a bit of empathy, a bit of personal understanding.

Robert Lewandowski (3:52)

Yeah, because I think that I was in different world, different generation. Because when I started to be the football players, I'm starting to play with the players that were 35 years old. So I was 18, you know, and I'm. And now I am 37. And there are. They have like 60, 70 years old. So it's like almost 40 years difference, you know. So it's good for me that if someone talk to me and say, hey, come on, you have to push, push more hard, harder. You know that for me, okay, I'm gonna do. And now, now you have to talk, you have to.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (4:24)

This is so interesting. Completely different because you learned football from people 20 years older than you.

Robert Lewandowski (4:28)

Yeah.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (4:29)

Someone 20 years older than you is now nearly 60. So you still have in you the mentality of a footballer from 60 years ago. Like, it's so interesting, you know, I'm.

Robert Lewandowski (4:42)

Older than father of the players. Yeah, no, I'm older. The father of Lamin, for example, you know, that is like. For me also, it's like, hey, come on, I have to learn from them as well. Not only that they should to learn from me, but I'm starting to think, hey, I can learn from them as well. Many things.

Co-host or secondary interviewer (4:59)

Like what?

Robert Lewandowski (5:00)

When I starting to see that they understand a lot football. You know, I think that many years ago was in that age that the players from Barcelona are now. I think that the players doesn't understand football so much. They understand them, you know, now we didn't have Internet, we didn't have the social media, we didn't have so many programs that we can speak about the football, what's going on, even mentality, physically, psychology as well, you know, now you have so many things that you can learn. And that time I think that the young player they didn't want asking sometimes because they afraid because of the generation, you know. And now they're open, they know the words, you know, they know what they want as well. I think that many years ago the people doesn't know exactly what they can do what they want and to do in the life, not only in the football. And now it's a huge difference.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (5:50)

Is this a healthier culture now in football than it was when you were first coming through, which was a much harder time?

Robert Lewandowski (5:57)

I don't know. Because from one side, if you want to stay on the top for many years, 10, 15, like Cristiano, Leo Messi, you know, you have to be strong mentality. If you are weak mentality for the long term, I think that it's going to be difficult to stay on the top. Especially now, not only because of the money that you have in football, very in age of 18, 19 or 20 years old, you know, many years ago I have to work few years to get bigger money. Now it's I think much more easier. But also everything what you have in the social media, Internet, that one day you are here and the next day you are on the ground so like this, that you have emotionally every day, so many, you know, so many jump on, jump back. Makes you also, I think, a little bit more weak.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (6:48)

What do you think that you, Ronaldo Messi have got in your mentality that has made the difference? What is the thing that you've tapped into? They've tapped into.

Robert Lewandowski (6:59)

I think that we had to work much more longer to achieve our goals, to achieve what we want. And from one side maybe was a little bit easier for us because we didn't have social media. Because I think social media is tough subject, you know, because if you read everything or if you listen everything about you, yourself, your club, every day it's so many information that in one day that can broke you, you know. And that time we starting we know how it looks words without the social media. And now how look the world with social media or with television. Everything was going around. And sometimes for myself I can stay on the site if it's something's too much. And the new generation, maybe they don't know how, because they don't know the words without. And if this is good for them, I don't know yet. Maybe if you're waiting 10 years, then we can speak about this. But I think that for 10 new generation will be tough staying on the top level. For the long time.

Co-host or secondary interviewer (8:05)

So when you think back to you now at 37 playing, what are the characteristics you learned at 17 when you first started that are still present?

Robert Lewandowski (8:14)

You know, when I was guy, very young guy, 70 years old, I had the dream for sure, but I didn't know what does it mean exactly because of course I have the dream to play on the big stadium, playing the big clubs and I know that I have to work very hard. But okay, I'm from Poland, so I didn't have the role model before me that I could, okay, maybe I want to go that direction that my previous player from Poland. So everything what I did or still what I doing is like, I'm trying, I'm check. And sometimes if I see the wall, you know, I know that, okay, it's the wall, but it's not for me that I cannot jump on this or crash the wall because okay, maybe if I see the wall and then step back, I will be not in the same place that I am now. I always trying if I see the wall, okay, I crashed them. I was jumping on and I'm going forward, you know, and that was sometimes very, very tough for me because I didn't know what is behind the wall. But I was trying and I think that helped me a lot.

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Co-host or secondary interviewer (10:43)

And where did that come from? That willingness to jump the wall?

Robert Lewandowski (10:47)

I don't know exactly, but maybe I was the child from Poland from the I was born in Warsaw, but I was grow up in small city in my head always I have big dreams, you know. But I want to show everyone that it doesn't matter where I come from you that you can achieve your goals, you know. And I told myself when I was young so long I'm going to play football. I want to do everything for. Not for 100%, but everything that I can show my best performance, my best skills because. Not because of only this, because I love the sport, I have passion. But I know that some days I'm going to miss this when I finish my career. It's only one part of my life. And one side of me is already ready for the second part of my life. But one part say me so long you can do this for on the good level try to do this. So you know, I don't afraid to finish my career because I started to prepare for finish my career when I was 27, 20 years old already I starting to prepare things that I can do after the football career. Because I know that football is. It's very important part of my life. But football is not all my life, especially now. You know, when I was young I didn't think about this because I had in my head only football, football, football. But now when I know that I'm very close to finish my career, I don't know, one, two, three years, maybe four, I don't know. But I don't have pressure, you know, if one day I feel my body, I feel that something my head changed and say, I think you start to think about finish your care, then I will be ready for this.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (12:31)

So right now is the fire inside you as strong as the fire that was inside that young boy?

Robert Lewandowski (12:38)

You know, I lost my father when I was 16 years old. And that was very tough for me, you know, I didn't ready to be a man, you know. And one day, in one minute I had to be the man in my family and in my life, you know. And nobody tell me how to be the man, you know, I have to try. And I think all of my life it's depends of trying of don't afraid to do something even that I don't have answer for my question. Because that time I have so many questions in my head, not only about the football, but about the life, how looks the life. And I couldn't ask my father, you know. And it's always different between connection between son and father and between son and mother. Even the mother is, you know, she trying to do everything the best what she can, and I appreciate it, but always, you know, some subject that you want to talk with some men. And I didn't have person who can tell me, explain what I can expect in my life in football, in club, in training session or everything. So what I said, that was for me, very, very tough.

Co-host or secondary interviewer (13:45)

If there was one thing that you would have wanted a father to have told you at 16, what do you wish you would have known?

Robert Lewandowski (13:53)

Now? I am the father, of course, I don't have son, but I have two daughters. But it's difficult to say. One advice to a young boy, more important is that you can be with your son, seeing what he doing, and sometimes give even small advice or just talk with him. I think what I miss a lot, that just conversation with my father, not about some important subject, of course, yes, but just, Just talk. Because after that I heard that my father is dead. I close for the words, I close for the people, you know, I don't know why, because I was young, I was not enough ready for this. I. I wasn't enough. You.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (14:39)

You closed up emotionally?

Robert Lewandowski (14:40)

Yeah, emotionally, yeah, for sure. And especially when I. When I went to Germany, you know, that the people in Germany, they, you know, they are more also they are very close because they are focused on work and what they have at home. So I was 12 years in Germany, so I learned from them a lot as well. And I think that the first step that I came to Barcelona and I saw the people, the culture, even the first days that Gavi came to me and hugged me, that was for me, how it's impossible that the players in the dressing hugged me. So, you know, with empathy, with everything. And I'm starting to think, wow, amazing. So I'm starting to learn from them as well.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (15:18)

One thing that we've realized, and we've had hundreds of conversations on high performance, many of them with people who, like you, had a trauma at a young age. And I think often we look at those traumas as things that are bad for us, but just because they're hard for us, it doesn't always mean that they're actually bad for us. And I wonder whether one of the reasons why you're still sitting here today with a fire inside you is. Is because you lost your father, is because you. You have the memory of him looking at you, and it's on the documentary about your life, when he looks at you in front of the Christmas tree and goes, one day you'll be the best Striker in Europe, one day you will play, in Italy, one day people will know your name. I wonder whether you have carried that with you in your career.

Robert Lewandowski (15:58)

Yeah, I have to say that every time when I go out on the pitch, you know that I know that my father see me on the first, you know, the best place in the stadium. And he supports me a lot because he helped me, he supported me a lot. When I'm starting to train with the first professional team, I mean, like even that was the third league, but first professional team, but he died before my first game, you know. So I know that every first goal in every new team or in the national team, that will be for him, you know. And every goals in the first team, Lech Post and then national team, then Borussia, Dorkund, Bayern Munich and Barcelona. That always was for him, you know. And even I feel till now his support, you know. I know that sometimes if someone doesn't lose someone, you know, from the family, that is difficult. What I want to try to say or explain, but I feel that he's around me. He helped me a lot because he was also the athlete, you know, he was like the judo guy, you know, he helped me a lot with judo. I was trained with him so many times at home to judo, but he didn't want that I'm going to go with this direction to train judo, because he knew that it's so tough and it's not, you know, it's like you have only the Olympic, you know, the time for judo. But during these four years you have competition, but not so important for the people. So he know that for me that the different sport will be much more better. But I have so many opportunities to. My mother was volleyball player, my sister as well, even my wife was karate, you know. But I have to say that I think the football choose me because when I was three years old, four years old, I saw the pictures that I already had the ball, football ball in my hand. And I did so many different sports. Even I was running for 1km, 1/2 kilometers. I won every, every, you know, the tournament. But what I want to say, I was so nervous before that I know it, that I cannot do this. But only football gives me like the pure happiness, without stress, without nothing. And I think because of this also that I know that the football is gonna be what I want to do.

Co-host or secondary interviewer (18:20)

Your father sounds an amazing man. What are the characteristics or the qualities that you see in you on a football field that reminds you of him.

Robert Lewandowski (18:32)

You know, after so many years? Of course you want to remember just the good things. You know, when I thinking about my father, he's like the real man, you know, he was big, he was very strong. Even I remember when he had also a lot of respect of the friends of people. Even at the place where we are living was very dangerous, you know. And when I met some people from them and he know that I am son of my father directly started. Oh, okay. You have our respect and we protect you. Don't worry, nothing happens. So that's everything. What this kind of things. When I heard that means that my father was like. Of course he had the problems like with his life, with his emotion as well. Because so long he was fit, healthy, he was strong. But when he got some problems, healthy problems. I saw it that he started being, you know, not motivated anymore. You know, he. He. He got more weights. You know, he starting to. To drink a lot of beers, alcohol as well. And I remember him before and after so, so long he was healthy. I'm in my head I still see him like he was running, you know, a lot. But after he was like more guy who was sitting on the couch of the sofa drinking beer, you know. And it's like I think that he couldn' fixed his problem mentality or even healthy problems. From one side I was too young to help him because I. I didn't know how. I didn't know that he has this kind of problems. But from another side, you know, it's like he was responsible for this and I don't. You know, it's this and that. Many years ago even I know something was tough to help, you know, this mentality physically psychology as well. Things to help your. Your family now will be different. Because I know what does it mean? You know, I know how hard it is for the people with the small problems. Because we are talking sometimes for the football players. They have expectation they that so many people thinking on also the places there are a lot of problems even that so many places doesn't speak about this. But that's why you have to be very strong. But how to be strong nobody can tell you, nobody can teach you. Because you cannot read this in the book. Because how many players, how many people know that you know, you can read a lot of about the psychology about mentality. But so long you are not in this position. I mean that not belong to you is tough to learn to know it.

Co-host or secondary interviewer (21:00)

So tell us then, Robert, you've spoken a lot about psychology and mentality and you've said that 70% of your incredible career has been down to the mental side. What would you tell us are the most important psychological elements?

Robert Lewandowski (21:15)

I never listen people from outside. I mean, of course, sometimes it's good to listen to people from outside, but if you listen too much, like not only bad things, but also good things. For example, I starting to see when I even read good things about me after the game. One, two, three games for the next game. That makes me more worse Weak really. Of course, nobody wants r bad things also. But I mean. And I remember when I scored five goals in nine minutes, you know, and during the game I was pissed off of. Of path because I. I didn't play from the beginning that I could. I even that I was a little bit injured, but I don't know why, but in my head I was. I should to play from the first minutes. So I was pissed off and I came in the second half. I scored five goals in nine minutes. But even after the game I didn't. I didn't know what I did. I was like in some different worlds, you know, I was so focused to score the for 1 1, then 2 1. Okay if. Then for 31 and okay, if I can. Then I can score the next one. Next one. Even I remember one. Like the situation after the game that Thomas Miller pushed me to the fans. Hey, celebrate with the fans and why we won the game, okay? Important game because we. We were fighting to the first. To the first place in the. In the Bundesliga. But I didn't realize why. What do you. What do you want from me? Yeah, I'm scoring. We won as a team, not only.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (22:45)

Me, but you knew you'd scored five.

Robert Lewandowski (22:46)

Goals in nine minutes at that time I didn't know. I didn't know.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (22:49)

How did you not know?

Robert Lewandowski (22:50)

I. I know that I score goals, but I didn't know. What does it mean? Even the next game we have the open train for the fans. I came out and I don't know how many. 2000 fans, I don't know how many fans was on the training they starting, you know, to do it. Why? What's happening? We won the game, okay? I scored the goals and even that time and I remembered that I found the solution that I don't want really nothing about this game, about me, because three days later we had Champions League, I scored three goals. Three days later we had Bundesliga, I scored two goals and three days later we had, I think Champions League again, or some games, or maybe Bundesliga games. And in four games I scored 12 goals. And I didn't read nothing about myself. And that Was like the first test in my life I didn't want because I was so focused on next challenge.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (23:46)

But why was seeing positive information about you making you weaker?

Robert Lewandowski (23:50)

Because I started thinking if I read too much about myself, amazing, brilliant information that you know, I would be too much relax. Yeah. You know. And first time that I started to thinking about what I did in these five goes in nine minutes. I remember till now was the Christmas time because that was the first time that I be. I was like more relaxed with my family and I understood that. I remember till now that I would. I was on the table with my family and I was like, I did like ah. Oh, I know what I did now, what I achieved, you know. And I remember that was like three months later. Yeah, two and a half months later. And I was. I had in my vision like, you know, corridor that I want to do the best what I what I can. I don't want lose time for thinking about this. And you know, it's like the emotional in football is also very important, you know, even that you read the bad things that now is the opposite side. If you read too much, you know, because the fans or someone even doesn't know you talk about you or starting to write what is the best for you if you are not strong or if you read this too much also it's like so many players with these problems, you know, okay, sometimes you can. You can handle this but for the. Not for the long term. And I'm starting to working on my mentality psychology as well. Because I knew it that the psychology in my life always was the most important things because I even that I finished my career. I don't have the. I don't want to have the problem psychology but can happen, you know, because you're going to miss something every day. You waking up, you go to the training, you have plan who since 20 years. Oh no, I think 30 years. Because I started playing football when I was 8 years old and I'm 38 so almost 30 years. Someone did the plan for you. You have to be on the training at that time. You have to be on the game that time. And after so many years, you have to do it yourself. So I know that will be tough sometimes for me. But in my life always the main point was the psychology for myself, for my family or people around me, the most important things. That's why even though I choose to do something, I choose it because of the psychology things that can help me not opposite side even that so many people don't understood this and your daughters.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (26:24)

Are very young, but what do you say to them already to help them to try and create the mindset that you've got?

Robert Lewandowski (26:31)

I'm starting to talk with them. Of course we. Of course we have the subject in the school now, you know. And I know I don't sometimes I'm trying to be. I'm the. I'm from between me and my wife. I am the guy who is more. A little bit more tough to them. But because I know that the life is not easy, you know, it doesn't matter that you are a football player or you are going to some company to working. This doesn't matter because you have to be. You don't have to be, but it's better that you are ready for the real life, you know. And I'm trying to explain them so many things that what important in their life is, you know, what's the one.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (27:12)

Thing you'd love them to understand, to respect?

Robert Lewandowski (27:15)

You know, I'm trying to always to. I had the last week even the conversation my oldest daughter, she's 8 years old. And I started hearing that she's starting using the words probably from the school for the different kids bad, but she doesn't know what does it mean. And also starting to talk about me, you know, and starting to talk with my daughters that it's not important, you know, what your father's name is or who I am, who is your father. More important is that you have to respect every parent, every father, you know, because it's not important to have at home. It's more important what to take out from your home. And I started to speak with her to explain her how words looks or what's going to be even that she's going to be 18, 20, 30 years old, you know that. Okay, I know that the next months or years is going to be more conversation like that. But I'm slowly start to explain her so many I can.

Co-host or secondary interviewer (28:19)

I love the role that you're playing in your daughter's lives. I'm interested in who filled that gap as a father figure for you after your father had passed away.

Robert Lewandowski (28:30)

You know, in our home also my wife had the problem with father because you know her father left the house when she was 14 years old. So we talk a lot about this and she tell me that so long he was at home that you know, for the daughters father is like the hero, you know. And she. She lost his father when she was in the age that she needed him as a lot. And also she explained me how Important is what I'm doing at home, how it's going to be important father for them, not only now, but even later. More important, you know, because you know, daughters they trying to find someone like father so many times in the future, you know, as the boyfriend or maybe the husband. And I don't want to try to tell them that everything what I doing is perfectly. Because I'm not perfectly. I'm not doing always the best things or perfectly things. But more importantly that she has to listen her voice. It doesn't matter what the people saying in the school, what the kids saying in the school. I'm trying to tell her also that listen your heart and try to find the best way that will be the best for you, not for someone. And you know, it's also tough because she's very emotional. The youngest is more as me, you know, she doesn't care too much about what's going on around. But the oldest one, she's very emotional. So I know that also important to take care of her. But also I'm not trying that we as the parents too much take care of her, you know, she has to know it, what she has to do in the future for her, you know, also that we'll be not living with her all life, you know, it's normal that someday she came and daddy, I want to leave and I say okay, if you are ready, I can help you. But now you have own way, you know, and you have to be ready for this.

Co-host or secondary interviewer (30:32)

But you've spoken about you wish that you'd been a little bit more arrogant yourself when you first started playing football. How did you learn to cross that line between arrogance and confidence? And who helped you?

Robert Lewandowski (30:47)

I tried to find my way alone, you know, sometimes I didn't know, I just tried. And of course I didn't. I never was like arrogant, of course, I was the striker. So on the pitch I was so many times egoistic, you know that I know that I have to be thinking about myself, but because that can help not only me, but that things can help also my teammates, you know. And even now I have to say that my position I can compare with the position of goalkeeper. Because we are playing with the team. But how we should to train, we should to train different as the rest of the teammates, you know, because even that you play some games how many touches you have as a striker and how many touches as the middle players or defender. It's completely like you have maybe 20% of all touches during the training session and the middle 60 and 30% or 40% also has defenders. So every training session you have less touches, you know. So if you. One week, two weeks, one month, two months. So doesn't mean that your teammates doing like 1000 in one week or I don't know how many, and you're doing 200 only touches. So it means that you need extra exercise or the different exercise. And even that during the game, always I was trying to thinking different, the teammates trying to figure out how to score the goal, you know, how to be one step quicker, faster than my opponent, you know. And if you are in the box, sometimes you're doing the things not thinking about these things, just automatically you're doing that because you train this, because you have in your blood, because not of that you had only 20 touches in the game, because you're doing the exercise extra, you know. And in the end you always, you have to thinking more, you know, about yourself than your teammates because of that position, but because if you want to take out the best what you have inside, not only in the head, but also in the legs, that helps you a lot.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (32:58)

Tell us about the importance of hard work then. Because we talk so much in football about natural talent or natural ability, but I get the impression with you that you've also had to force a lot. You know, you lost your dad at a young age. A year later you get released and you get badly injured. When you're released by Legio Warsaw, you then go right back to the very lowest rung of Polish football and fight your way back up. And then you end up moving to Dortmund and fight your way to win over the fans after a difficult start there, then you go to Bayern and you have to fight to show you're a Bayern player. Then you come to one of the biggest clubs in the world, fight to show that you deserve to play at Barcelona. I think your career is littered with hard work, self belief, but also fight.

Robert Lewandowski (33:39)

So I am the fighter? Yeah.

Co-host or secondary interviewer (33:41)

Do you think you are?

Robert Lewandowski (33:43)

Yeah, I think you have to be. You have to be. If you don't fight, you cannot achieve everything what you want. Okay, you can achieve some goals, but I think in my, in my way, if I don't fight for myself, I will be not in the same place that I am, that's for sure. I don't know. Because I am the fighter, because of my situation, my history in my life, that I lost my father, that I was injury in very. I was 70 years. Yeah, in 70 years in legi award, so that I finished my contract. So I was without the Club after injury that I couldn't even run 400%. I remember till now that my legs was like still behind because my muscle was so weak. But still I believed myself. Of course I knew it, that everything what I doing, I doing because I want. And if that time I listen the people around, probably I'm not in the same place and we are not talking now.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (34:42)

You would have walked away if you'd have taken advice.

Robert Lewandowski (34:43)

Yeah, probably, because at that time I had two way, you know, maybe to finish with the football or to show everyone they did the big mistakes. And I choose this way, you know, because I know that even I was young, I still. I have from my eyes the picture that you see that one group going in that way because everyone's going and one guy going the left, you know. And after so many years, I. I can tell you that I am this guy, you know, to go the different way.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (35:12)

So were you born with this self belief?

Robert Lewandowski (35:14)

I think yeah, because I was when I was young and you know, some group especially that you are in the school and you know, your friends, everyone tell, oh come on, we are going and we are doing this. And you know that from. Because of depression in so many people doing this because of the group, because so many people tell you, you know, and I always was this guy, no, I don't want, no, I don't do this, I'm going that way. You know, even that day was angry and so many times, of course. But in the end I know that it's best for me not from someone. And I think that maybe I'm born with this, or maybe I learn even that I don't know from who or from where.

Co-host or secondary interviewer (35:55)

There's a conversation that you recount you had after a 3, 0 defeat against Marseille with Jurgen Klopp, where in your words, you said you had a conversation that unlike one you'd had since your father died. Would you tell us about it?

Robert Lewandowski (36:12)

That conversation, of course, that was very important conversation for me. But I was like one year in Germany in maybe three, four months. So I didn't speak too much, you know, I was speaking Germany, but not fluency that could speak about so emotional things in Germany. But we were speaking about two hours, you know, even that I didn't understand him a lot. For me, more important was like that I had conversation like, maybe with like my father. And for me it was important his impression, you know, just to. To see in his eyes, in his face, I saw that he believe in me, you know, he believed me. He knows that I am Good players that even I was. I didn't understand what he want from me, you know, because I came to him and asking Jurgen, what do you want from me? Because I don't understand why you want that I'm playing like that, or, you know, tactical, everything, you know. And after two hours I understood that I miss this kind of conversation since years with my father. And even I cannot tell you everything what he told me, because I don't understand. I didn't understand what more important was that I saw someone like big guy, you know, that looks not, I want to say similar, but in the same shape as my father. And I founded something that maybe I missed since years because I lost my father. And I remember that we play Champions League on Wednesday and Saturday was the game Bundesliga and we won 4, 0 against Augsburg, I think. And I scored hat trick and assist. I had to assist, you know. So that was the first game that I push myself and I show not everything, but I show my skill, as you know, the first game. And after this conversation, after these games, everything in my life, in my career is going up.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (38:16)

Do you think that you emotionally closed off after the loss of your father? Do you think in that conversation with Jurgen Klopp he managed to unblock some of. Some of that?

Robert Lewandowski (38:25)

For sure, he unblocked me in some case, I don't know which, I don't know what exactly.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (38:30)

And although you don't understand the whole conversation. No, what do you understand? He said that lit you up, that made you understand, unblocked, you believe.

Robert Lewandowski (38:40)

I think that I saw him, his face, what he had in the eyes, that he believe that I am the guy who can not only score a lot of goals, but who can be one of the best, you know. And of course, I understood few things, you know, but what most important things in this conversation, what I take it out, was that just things inside, emotionally, not about. I think that everything what we talk about, the football, for me wasn't important, most important, but that he talked to me like. Like the man who is talking with the son of. Maybe for me from my side, for juvenile should not, but for my side that was like that. And I think that he unblocked my. Not, I want to say not talent, but he had block.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (39:36)

Freedom.

Robert Lewandowski (39:37)

Freedom. Oh, I think the freedom, yeah. And because before, I heard so many times from the people from Dortmund, because the first season was tough for me, you know, the language, the culture, everything. The training session, the intensity of the training session was tough, because I want to show I am the guy who can do everything and I show you that I can do this but was too hard, you know. And then one game I missed some situation and et cetera was difficult. And I think that this freedom give me like oh I want to say that they tell me so many times if you show us in the game, 70% of your performance in the training session for us will be enough. But I couldn't in the game, you know. And I think after this conversation I give them the best what I had.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (40:26)

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Robert Lewandowski (41:58)

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Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (42:49)

You're very interesting because often when people are really successful, they want the world to understand the way that they think. But you're someone who's very successful. But I get the impression that all you want to do is find out from other people. What do you think? What do you know? I. I wonder whether we could talk a bit about some of the managers you've worked with and the biggest lesson that you learned from each one. So maybe starting with Jurgen, the biggest lesson that he taught you.

Robert Lewandowski (43:12)

When I think about the Jurgen and what he gave me, what he gave me, what he teach me, that this mentality that the Jurgen was very impressed. He was like the guy who from one side he can hack you, you know, like a father, like uncle, but from another side he was like the bad teacher. And I was very young, so for me I was. That was very good lessons, you know, in this time. And that's true that from. In my life, the football career, I want to take everything, what every. Each of the coaches, they have the best. From Jurgen Klopp, from Pep Guardiola, Carla Ancelotti, that Henke Nagelsmann as well, you know, of course in Barcelona, Hansi Fleek, or even in Bayern Munich as well. Because I know that I am the guy who love to teach, you know, not only because of the football, but because of my. My life. I also had a good conversation with the people like the president or owner of the clubs, you know, about the club, about what's going on of the. Of the pitch, you know, for example, okay, Bursa domo as well with Akivadsky, you know, we had so many conversations, but in Bayern Munich that you see that the club they, you know, how they manage the club is everything like Germany, you know, Ordnung, that everything's going perfectly line. And now in Barcelona they had so many financial problems that how they fix. Try to fix it. It's very interesting, you know, it's so tough, but it's very interesting. And I think I can take this. So many things from the football. So in the business, things, you know, for the future, for example, or you Know, it's like if you are talking about the coaches, like, of course, Jurgen Klopp was the guy even that I talk with him. Like I see that pure love, you know, that everything what he tried to speak is like pure. And he doing that because of what he had in the. In the heart. But Pep was like the tactically coaches who can change your mind to change your. You know, your thinking about the football. And of course he was like smn sometimes tough, difficult for the players. Not for me too tactical. I think that the Pep he give you 110% but he wanted from you as well. 100%. I think that not everyone was ready for this because, you know, you have some place that they can. They want to enjoy the football more. They are not ready mentally to. To give someone so many. You know, for me it was easier because I was ready for this, you know, mentality. Not only physically, but mentally as well. And Pep is. I don't know now, after so many years, he changed. Maybe, you know, if you talk now with the City players, maybe they told you that maybe it's not the same pep as eight years ago or even 10 years ago. You know, for sure, because when I see that how they playing that he has to change as well. But, you know, it's like I'm appreciated that I met so huge. Not only names in my football way, but also amazing people like the personality from. From the beginning. Because probably because of them now I'm here where I am. Of course I know that. I remember one conversation with Pep and he told me, I can help you to build up how that you got the ball in the box. But don't listen. Nobody who tried to tell you what you should to do the ball, because you are the best. You know better than me. And you know that don't listen another coaches to try to. You have to run the first post, you have to run there. No, you. I know that you know better for everyone in the world. So listen yourself. And that was for me how is possible? Always I was listening the coach what they tell me. And after he also changed my mind. And because you know, the striker sometimes if you see the game that so many things. No, he should run there, because like everyone should run the first post. But I see the football this situation in different way, you know, because I know that defender is. Is easier if he waiting that I'm running the first post. So sometimes better to waiting or change the position of someone who attacked from the second line. And yeah, that's true that later I Didn't listen to much coaches about. No, about only not tactically things about what I should to do in the box, you know. And I had so many write about what. What is better way. What is better for me in this situation, for the. For the team as well. Of course. I need so many conversations with my teammates to know it. That if I'm going that way, that you have space, you can attack the space where it's free, you know. And then maybe if you got the ball, you are alone, of course. And Bayern, that was working very well. And Barcelona as well, you know, in the beginning was maybe tough, but after, when they understood the players teammates that I am this kind of player that likes attack in this situation first post, but in this situation second pose that is easier for the old team.

Co-host or secondary interviewer (48:23)

And what about Carlo Ancelotti?

Robert Lewandowski (48:26)

Oh, he gave me so many self confidence, you know. He came to Bayern and the first season that everything's working very well, you know. And he's starting to talk with me. He's starting to give me some advice that I should do the free kick, you know, that he believed in me that I can do this. And he gave me a lot of self confidence, you know. And I saw it that after this I scored the first. Maybe not first, but I started to scoring the goals from the free kick. Then penalty as well, you know. And some kind of situation that I took responsive for the team. He helps me a lot.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (49:06)

I would like to talk to you about the Ballon d' or moment because I think the way you've dealt with that has been. You understand the word magnanimous English word it like you've accepted it. How have you accepted it? Because for so many people it feels very wrong.

Robert Lewandowski (49:21)

When I heard this conversation question then I started to understand that was some big. You know, I don't want to say mistake, but big, you know, that. That Ballon Don the gala wasn't happen, you know. But from me, I don't think about this. Nothing really. Only when I got this question, I started thinking, okay, I should win. Maybe, maybe so many people talking that I should to win. But what I can do, you know, it's like that was few years ago. I won two times in a row the best football in the world, you know. So for me, for the guy from Poland winning FIFA, the best player in the world two times in the row. It means a lot. But of course, like for the. For the image, like for the show. Baron d' or is always like. Because it's more gold, you know. But in the end. I don't have that. I'm sleeping bad or I'm thinking about this. No. But if I got this question, some. Okay. Something big. Because so many people asking me about this and. But what I can do nothing, you know. And then next, later, 2021, I lost. I was second, and I lost with Leo Messi. Means a lot that I was guy the competition between me and Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. I was in this era very close. And sometimes I won against them, like the FIFA, you know, two times the best player in the world. Okay. Ballon d'. Or. I wasn't in the first place, but in the end, for the media, for the, you know, genre is big things. But not for me, you know, it's like, doesn't change my life.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (51:00)

One thing that's interesting, though, is this was a battle of you against Lionel Messi and I actually. You're good friends with Novak Djokovic.

Robert Lewandowski (51:06)

Yeah, Yeah.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (51:07)

I often look at his career and I think there's Novak, and he's always had Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal winning things and just pipping him. And I then look at your career, and I think you've always had Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, just that tiny edge. And I often wonder what his career and your career would look like without those people in the way.

Robert Lewandowski (51:29)

You know, I think that the Cristiano Messi helped me a lot, you know, because I trying to achieve not the level, but what they achieve with the goals, you know, with the titles. And, you know, that motivated me a lot on the beginning. I didn't even. I wasn't dream to be so close to fight with them, to win some. Some titles, and in the end, I won over them. You know, it means like, wow, when I think about this, when I looking back, it means a lot. Of course, I can. I cannot tell you that I. I was the better players than them, but I could compare with them some. You know, even two years in the row, I remember like, I was me, Cristiano and Leo Messi, and between us was, who's going to win? You know, and the next year I was. I think that between me, Leo Messi as well, and maybe I don't know that Cristiano as well was there, but even that I was there not one time, but two times. This means, wow. I was in their world, in their table, you know, so close. And it means a lot for me. I don't want to say that I was much more better player or I was better player than Cristiano Messi? Of course not. But it means a lot that I could be competition guy with these big names and, you know, and it's like amazing.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (52:47)

I think a good lesson from your life as well for people is you only really seem to want to control the things you can control. You can't control the Ballon d', or, you can't control the success of Christiana and Leo, but you can control your own work ethic and your own self belief, and you can control not living with regret. Is that fair?

Robert Lewandowski (53:04)

Yeah. When I think about myself, everything, what I achieve, I can be proud of myself, you know, I don't want to compare my way to L. Messi, to Cristiano or the different players, because everyone from us, starting from the different level, from different situation, with everyone from us has the different problems, you know. But when I look up and I see all titles, everything, what I achieve, I can be very proud of myself and I can go in my head, up.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (53:37)

The boy from Poland did good, I think.

Robert Lewandowski (53:40)

Very good.

Co-host or secondary interviewer (53:42)

But given that you are in the same company as Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi, what is the one thing that you think distinguishes elite talent like you guys from other footballers and from the rest of the population?

Robert Lewandowski (54:00)

I can speak about myself, you know, because I know I. I don't know exactly what Leo and Cristiano I know maybe, but, you know, I cannot talking for them, but for myself, I know that it doesn't matter how good you play the last game, the most important is the next game. And in football, we have so many games and expectation is very high. Not only on the pitch, that 80,000, I don't know, maybe more fans looking on you, but the people on television to look into television also. It's different if you play for the club, but different if you're playing for the national team, you know. But for the football player to stay on the top is tough, you know, not only because of the expectation, but also you have to be ready always. Because if one game you don't play well, then the people start talk, you had the bad performance, okay, can happen. But you have so many games that you have to think about recovery. Because if you don't think about recovery, the next game you're going to be more tired. If you're going to be more tired, then you're going to start thinking slowly. If you start thinking slowly, then your legs starting run slowly. If your legs starting slowly, then you cannot score the goal. And of course, the kind of different position because striker so Many people knows that you play well or not, because if you score then good, if not, then bad. It doesn't matter that you did amazing job. And this kind of things are sometimes good. Because if you score the goal, even that you play bad, then it's fine, you know. But in the football, of course you for the strike, it's important that your head that everything what you had, had that also you are ready for the game. Not only physically, but mentality. Because even that you feel well your body physically well, but mental, as you know, you cannot score the goal goals. Maybe you can score one game, one goals can happen next game. But to scoring goals, almost every, every games, it's not only because of your skills. More is because of your mentality. And I remember when I scoring 69 goals in one year, you know, in 50 few games, I don't. Yeah, 55. I think that I did the same level as Cristiano Ronaldo. The best season, you know. And Cristiano, when I when, when you are looking back that he was scoring 91, the best year that he scored 91 goals, it's like, wow, I'm there. Yeah, I'm 69. And it's like before the game, that even is not important for the team or for you. Because if you win, if you lose, doesn't happen. But for the striker, it's very important. Because if you're going to score, maybe you're going to break some record, maybe you're going to win some titles in the end, you know. And you cannot be ready physically. You have to always ready also before the game mentality for the striker, because it's not like that. We go on the pitch and we are just playing. If I play pass, if I change the side diagonal ball, that will be fine. No, the strike has to be always ready. And every second you cannot start and think, okay, in the second half, I starting to be more focused. Sometimes too late. You have to be ready before the game. And you cannot starting like one hour before the game. After the game. For me, after the game, I already started preparation for the next game.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (57:18)

And what is the cost of living a life like this for so many years?

Robert Lewandowski (57:23)

Maybe you have to ask my wife or my friends. But of course it's not easy. It's not easy because everything what you are doing at home is because of football. You know, sometimes I was so many times so tired. So I was always thinking, I have to come back to home because in two days we have another game. So I have to be ready. I cannot walk Someone, somewhere. I cannot go somewhere because I was starting thinking if I rest at home, well, that I will be ready for the game. If I do some stupid, not stupid, but normal things that cost me, like the power, maybe in the game I miss something, you know. And so many chooses. I choose in my life was because of the football.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (58:10)

Has the pressure ever affected your mental health?

Robert Lewandowski (58:13)

Yeah, of course, the pressure, especially sometimes, you know, that not only the club, but also national team, so many people believe in you and you know that because of you, that means a lot, not only for you, but also for the players and also for the fans. And if you're gonna play bad, if you don't score the goal, you know, that maybe you don't win game. If you don't win the game, that maybe you don't qualify to World cup or to the Europe Championship, you know. And that was, I think national team, the pressure was much more higher than in the club also because the expectation was very high, you know, because I was playing the best club in the world. So so many things was starting to thinking that we have two, three players in a good club, that we are ready to win some titles, you know. And now I think in every nationality, good nationality, you have players that playing the good league in the La Liga Bundesliga, Serie A, you know, so that there's so many people thinking still, if you play away of Poland, that means that you are playing the good club. But now everyone, almost everyone from the national team, this kind of good clubs. So it means for me that I came to national team from that time Dortmund and Bayern Munich. I was scoring every game goals. And then in national team was more tough to score in goal, you know, oh, I scored but a little bit less. That was starting to people talking, ah, in Poland he don't want, you know, just for the club. And that for me was like, I didn't hit this kind of bullshit, you know, because I, I didn't play for money for national team. I didn't play because I could win something, you know, for myself. No, I, I, I play for national team because I love my country because I won it and because I want, want to give them something, you know, that they can enjoy the happiness. And sometimes the expectation was very high. And you know, it like for me also was tough. I remember that my expectation also for the teammates in national team was almost the same level as I was in the Bayern Munich. I had to change that, you know, because I couldn't expect taste for my teammates in national team the same level as Bayern Munich. I don't. I don't want to say to everyone, but you know, to the quality. And for me that was also like, okay, I cannot expectation for them that we're gonna play the same level as I was in the Bayern Munich because for them was tough and also I pushed them a lot. And I'm starting to see that for so many players was too much mentality. Was too much because I was thinking, if I can do this, so you can do this well, but wasn't correct, you know, and I started to, okay, change this because was. I don't know that maybe that was my mistake, but also maybe because I pushed them also that they tried to do the next step. Even that they didn't want or they didn't try or they were afraid, you know. But in the end, also I learned a lot on this case because it's difficult from Bayern or Barcelona, you know, and the national team, you are on a different level, but your expectation was in the same level. But I couldn't expect the same from my teammates in national team.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (61:29)

We've reached the time for our quick fire questions.

Robert Lewandowski (61:31)

Okay.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (61:35)

Your best ever game.

Robert Lewandowski (61:38)

Only one?

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (61:39)

Yeah. Whoa, That's a confident man.

Robert Lewandowski (61:42)

Okay, I don't know the best, but most epic. Yeah, yeah, the five goals in nine minutes. Yeah, for sure. Four goals in the semi final of Champions League against Real Madrid. Yeah, most epic. Yeah, for sure. Like or even. Yeah, it depends what does it mean? But most epic? Yeah, directly I can see the. The, you know, World cup because of the goal? No, but these two directly in my mind. Yeah.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (62:10)

Very good.

Co-host or secondary interviewer (62:11)

What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?

Robert Lewandowski (62:14)

Terry and Re. Tell me one story. History. I think with Asan Wenger that after that one game of training session, he came to him and asked him what he can do better to be the better football. And Arsene Wengel tell him. I can tell you you have to find out yourself. And I started to think about this and it's like so good advice. And I think my way, my life was the same. I had to find find out my way what I should to do better, what I should to do to do the next step. Not that someone tell me if you don't figure out that maybe you don't have too much respect for this, that you did this yourself.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (62:59)

And life is so much more interesting when you work it out for yourself.

Robert Lewandowski (63:02)

Okay. Sometimes the advice help you a lot. I have to say that if I get this kind of advice earlier, maybe that will be easier in some things. But of course that the taste in the end is much more better.

Co-host or secondary interviewer (63:15)

What are the three non negotiable behaviors that you and everyone around you is expected to bite into?

Robert Lewandowski (63:21)

Always are trying to be honestly even that for someone was tough because I'm trying to sell to tell the truth, you know, and not everyone want to hear the truth, but I think honestly hard work and and never give up.

Host (possibly a podcast host or interviewer) (63:40)

And finally, for people that have listened to this amazing conversation and understand even more about your career, what would you like them to leave thinking about as the one golden rule for living a high performance life?

Robert Lewandowski (63:52)

Always thinking about your psychology because it doesn't matter that you have a football player or you are in your life, private life, that's the most important thing. If you stay healthy, the rest and other things you can fix yourself. So I think psychology or mentality things are the most important that you have to take care of this What a.

Co-host or secondary interviewer (64:16)

Way to start 2026 with one of the greatest strikers of all time sitting down with us in Barcelona to share his incredible story. The discipline, the obsession with marginal gains, and that insatiable hunger to prove himself even after everything he's already achieved. Well, that's what separates the truly elite from everyone else. At that moment when he talked about losing his dad, that was a powerful reminder that even at the very top, these human emotions still drive everything. If you've listened to this as a podcast, please go and watch it on YouTube. We flew to Barcelona specifically to sit down with Robert and seeing his face as he tells these stories add so much more to the conversation. This is going to be an incredible year of high performance. So please hit subscribe Share this with any football fans in your life and together let's make 2026 a year of growth, resilience and relentless improvement. Welcome to the New Year. We look forward to seeing you throughout.

Robert Lewandowski (65:25)

Foreign.

Commercial/Advertisement Voice (65:39)

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Robert Lewandowski (66:09)

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