Lewandowski breaks records and eyes Messi and Ronaldo’s goal-scoring dominance

Robert Lewandowski is back in the spotlight of European soccer. At an age of 36 years, this Polish forward seems to have regained his top form, reminiscent of his glory days at Bayern Munich. With two goals in Barcelona's big win over Sevilla last Sunday, he reached an impressive milestone of 366 goals in Europe's top leagues, passing the legendary Gerd Müller, good for third on the all-time scoring list behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

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But is this just a good run of form, or has Lewandowski finally returned to the top? If Hansi Flick is now managing Barcelona, then all signs are that Lewa will relive his best years.

Hansi Flick's New Leadership-A System That Fits Lewa

Expectations were high when Hansi Flick took over at Barcelona for the 2024/25 season. The former Bayern boss proved earlier and didn't take long to bring Lewandowski's best side out in Camp Nou.

Under Flick, Lewandowski looks more comfortable on the pitch. Flick has adapted Barcelona's system to maximize the strengths of the Polish striker, putting him in dangerous positions and involving him more in the team's play. From a pure finisher, Lewa has turned into a more complete player, providing assists and creating space for companions.

Numbers don't lie, as in 12 games this season, Lewandowski has already scored 14 goals and provided two assists. His average of 1.16 goals per game is on par with his best years at Bayern, which shows that he's benefited from Flick's system.

Comparative Statistics with Past Seasons

From the very beginning in Barcelona, Lewandowski had ups and downs regarding adapting to Xavi Hernández's style. In his first two seasons-2022/23 and 2023/24-Lewa dazzled at some moments and struggled in others, reflected in the averages of goals: 0.71 goals in 2022/23 to 0.53 in 2023/24.

Now, thanks to Flick, we have Lewandowski, rejuvenated and with a goal-per-game average of more than one. Indeed, Flick's system-POS with fast transitions and dynamic attack-is tailor-made for Lewa's strengths: his finishing precision and box intelligence.

Outdoing the Legends: Gerd Müller and the All-Time Scoring List

With that, he has reached 366 goals in Europe's top leagues, extending past German legend Gerd Müller, a feat that places him among the best goal-scorers in history. He now features just behind Lionel Messi, who has 496 goals, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who boasts 495 thus far.

This is not only a question of number but a hallmark of Lewandowski's longevity and consistency at the highest level. In the Messi-Ronaldo-dominated era, Lewa has somehow managed to keep himself churning out an incredible amount of goals year in, year out.

At 36, he is still proving he has plenty left in his tank. And if he continues this way, he might narrow the gap to Messi and Ronaldo and further seal a place in soccer history.

The El Clásico Against Real Madrid: The Ultimate Test

In the round, Lewandowski faces one of the toughest challenges of the season in the name of El Clásico against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu-a match that will pit league leaders Barcelona against second-place Real Madrid. This is indeed a possible title-defining moment.

After nine victories in 10 games, Hansi Flick's Barcelona seems to gain stability, much of it thanks to Lewandowski's goals. With the Pole having scored, this will indeed be a high-scoring match to solidify his return to the top. The world will be watching, waiting to see if he can keep going at this brilliant run and prove once again that age is just a number.