Robert Lewandowski lifted his arm in the final minutes of Barcelona’s 3‑1 win over Real Betis on Sunday, prompting teammates and even goalkeeper Joan García to rush the pitch in celebration. The veteran’s farewell came in Barça’s penultimate home game, capping a four‑year spell that delivered 119 goals, seven trophies and a LaLiga crown.

His impact stretched beyond numbers. Averaging 0.75 goals per 90 minutes in the 2025‑26 league, only Kylian Mbappé, Raphinha and Ferran Torres posted better ratios. Coach Hansi Flick, who also guided Lewandowski at Bayern, praised the striker’s leadership and work‑rate, noting his single shot late in the match was a symbolic nod rather than a performance metric.

Barça paid €45 million for the 33‑year‑old in the summer of 2022, a fee many doubted given his age. Yet he silenced skeptics, helping the club rebound from a 13‑point deficit and a Europa League slump to three league titles in four seasons. With his contract expiring in June, Lewandowski departs, leaving a legacy that reshaped Barcelona’s recent era.

Fans honored him with banners reading “Robert, everything started with you,” while his family joined the guard of honour on the field. The tribute underscored how his professionalism helped elevate young talents like Pedri and Gavi. Barcelona now faces Valencia without their talisman, but the standards he set will dictate the squad’s ambition for the final stretch.