• Robert Lewandowski has announced his resignation from the Polish national football team.
• The decision comes after he lost his captaincy to Piotr Zielinski.
• Lewandowski cited a loss of trust in coach Michal Probierz as a key reason for his decision.

Poland's record goalscorer Robert Lewandowski has decided to resign from the national team following his removal as captain by coach Michal Probierz. The decision to appoint Inter Milan midfielder Piotr Zielinski as the new captain was communicated to Lewandowski and the entire squad, which sparked the striker's announcement of his resignation. Lewandowski stated on social media, "Considering the circumstances and the loss of trust in the Polish national team coach, I have decided to step back from playing for the Polish national team as long as he remains the coach," according to BBC.

Lewandowski's absence from the current squad has led to speculation surrounding his future with the national team. The 36-year-old has previously cited physical and mental exhaustion following a demanding season with Barcelona as part of his reasoning for not participating in the ongoing international window. With 85 goals across 158 appearances, he had been a central figure for Poland and held the captaincy since 2014, according to Channel News Asia and Reuters.

Probierz's decision to change the captaincy follows a controversial Euro 2024 campaign in which Poland finished last in their group, making them the first country eliminated from the tournament. The Polish Football Federation (PZPN) has responded to the situation and is expected to address questions at an upcoming press conference, scheduled prior to their World Cup qualifier against Finland. Poland remains successful in their current qualifying campaign, having won their first two matches, according to Channel News Asia and Reuters.