The High Performance Podcast

Episode: Robert Lewandowski: What Nobody Sees Behind a World-Class Striker (E384)

Date: January 5, 2026
Host: Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes
Guest: Robert Lewandowski

Overview

In this deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation, world-class striker Robert Lewandowski sits down with Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes to discuss the mentality and resilience required to sustain excellence at the very top of world football. From grief and growth after the loss of his father to lessons learned from legendary coaches, Lewandowski offers unique insights into high performance—on and off the pitch. He explores how his upbringing, mindset, and willingness to adapt have kept him among the elite for over two decades, while also sharing wisdom for anyone aiming to maximize their own potential.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mental Strength vs. Physical Ability

• Mentality outweighs physical ability in longevity

  • "Which is more important mentally? I gonna say that is 70% general what you need to be on the top, you know, not for one, two or three years, but many years..."
    — Robert Lewandowski [01:03]

• Evolving football landscape:
  Lewandowski notes that the game shifts every five years, demanding continual adaptation, both mentally and physically. He's recognized the difference in generations, especially moving from Bayern Munich to a much younger Barcelona squad.

2. Generational Differences and Leadership

• Bridging gaps with empathy:
  His transition from the German to Spanish football culture required new forms of leadership—less direct and more empathetic.
  • "I have to learn from them as well. Not only that they should to learn from me" [04:42]

3. Surviving and Thriving in the Social Media Age

• Impact of social media on young players:
  Lewandowski reflects on how easy it is for new players to be "broken" by information overload, something he and his contemporaries avoided early in their careers.
  • "If you read everything or if you listen everything about you...that can broke you, you know." [06:59]
  • "The new generation...maybe they don't know how, because they don't know the words without [social media]." [06:59]

4. Overcoming Loss and Trauma

• Losing his father at 16:

  • "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." [12:38]
  • This loss closed him emotionally but also forged deep resilience: "I closed for the words, I close for the people, you know..." [13:53]

• Promise to himself:
  Always striving for the best because "I want to show everyone that it doesn't matter where I come from, you can achieve your goals." [10:47]

5. Fatherhood, Role Models, and Legacy

• On parenting:
  Lewandowski strives for honest conversations with his daughters, emphasizing respect and self-belief over fame or status.

  • "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." [27:15]

• Importance of father figures:
  His wife also lost her father—together, they reflect on the pivotal role fathers have for daughters and sons in identity and confidence.

6. Arrogance vs. Confidence and the Striker’s Mentality

• “I was so many times egoistic, you know...but that things can help also my teammates.” [30:47]
• Strikers and goalkeepers train differently and need extra mental and technical preparation due to fewer touches and unique pressure.
• Lewandowski consistently pursued "the extra," seeking an edge through individualized training.

7. Resilience Amid Adversity

• Early rejection and injuries:
  Released by Legia Warsaw, serious injuries, setbacks—each became points of determination.
  • "If I don't fight for myself, I will be not in the same place that I am, that's for sure." [33:43]
  • "If I had listened [to others], probably I'm not in the same place and we are not talking now." [34:42]

8. Transformative Mentors

• Key lessons from coaches:
  • Jurgen Klopp: Gave him “freedom,” believed in him like a father figure, broke his emotional block after his father's death.
    • "For me, more important was like that I had conversation like, maybe with like my father. And for me it was important his impression...I saw that he believe in me." [36:12]
  • Pep Guardiola:
    • "Tactically, he can change your mind to change your...your thinking about the football." [43:12]
    • Pep told him: “Don't listen to any coach about what you should do in the box, you know better than me." [47:39]
  • Carlo Ancelotti: Instilled self-confidence, empowered him to try new aspects on the pitch (e.g., free kicks).
    • "He gave me a lot of self confidence, you know. He believed in me..." [48:26]

9. The Ballon d’Or, Messi & Ronaldo

• On missing the Ballon d’Or:
  “For the guy from Poland winning FIFA, the best player in the world two times in a row. It means a lot...But in the end, I don't have that...I'm sleeping bad or I'm thinking about this. No.” [49:21]
• On competing with the best:
  “Cristiano Messi helped me a lot...I was in their world, in their table, you know, so close. And it means a lot for me.” [51:29]

10. Sustaining Excellence & Coping with Pressure

• Never content, always preparing for the next match:
  “It doesn't matter how good you play the last game, the most important is the next game.” [54:00]

• Mental health impact:
  "Of course, the pressure, especially sometimes...national team, so many people believe in you ... For me, national team, the pressure was much more higher than in the club." [58:13]

• Adapting expectations:
  Struggled when expecting national teammates to perform at Bayern’s level—learned to adjust leadership styles.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On defining moments and self-belief:
  • "If I see the wall, okay, I crashed them. I was jumping on and I'm going forward..." [08:14]
  • "So I am the fighter? Yeah." [33:39]
• On the cost of elite career:
  • "Everything what you are doing at home is because of football..." [57:23]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Early mindset and role of mental strength: [01:03]
• Empathy and learning from younger generations (Barcelona transition): [03:48–05:50]
• Impact of social media and generational changes: [05:50–08:05]
• Losing his father and emotional impact: [12:38–15:18]
• Becoming a father, teaching daughters about life: [26:31–30:32]
• Difference between arrogance and confidence; striker’s mentality: [30:47–32:58]
• Journey through adversity and maintaining belief: [33:39–35:14]
• Transformative conversation with Jurgen Klopp: [36:12–40:26]
• Lessons from iconic coaches: [43:12–48:26]
• Ballon d’Or perspective and rivalry with Messi/Ronaldo: [49:21–53:04]
• Cost of high performer’s life, handling pressure: [57:23–58:13]
• Quickfire: Best game, best advice, non-negotiables: [61:35–63:52]

Quickfire Highlights

• Best games: “Five goals in nine minutes...four goals against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi.” [61:39]
• Best advice: “You have to find out yourself.” (via Thierry Henry’s story about Arsène Wenger) [62:14]
• Three non-negotiable behaviours: "Honesty, hard work, and never give up." [63:21]
• His golden rule for high performance:
  "Always thinking about your psychology...that's the most important thing." [63:52]

Conclusion

Robert Lewandowski’s story is one of relentless self-improvement, psychological discipline, and humility even at the pinnacle of his field. His insights transcend sport—providing a blueprint for anyone determined to pursue excellence, embrace adversity, and find meaning in both triumph and loss.