Freiburg (AP) – World footballer Robert Lewandowski from FC Bayern Munich has set Gerd Müller’s Bundesliga record of 40 goals in one season. The 32-year-old Pole scored his 40th goal of the season with a penalty kick in the 26th minute of the German champions’ game at SC Freiburg on Saturday, equalizing Müller’s record from the 1971/72 season. For decades this was considered unattainable.
Lewandowski converted the penalty kick flat and safe. After his hit, he presented a black T-shirt with Müller’s likeness and the white inscription “4EVER GERD” under his jersey. Bayern’s players and coaching staff formed a trellis for him in front of the bench on the sidelines and applauded. “Confidently transformed. If he has earned himself, he has earned himself. Congratulations on this record and the 40th goal,” said Lothar Matthäus at halftime on the pay-TV broadcaster Sky.
For Lewandowski it is another milestone in his professional career. He has already been top scorer in the Bundesliga five times: in 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020. His season record to date was 34 goals. “It doesn’t help if you want it too badly,” he said a week ago after his three-pack in the 6-0 victory of the German champions against Borussia Mönchengladbach about his record hunt.
“You can see that he is in great shape,” said captain Manuel Neuer after the Lewandowski show against Gladbach. The outstanding league player knows of course that he is not solely responsible for the record. “I can be grateful that I have received so many templates from my colleagues,” said Lewandowski.
The successful record hunt should also be rated particularly highly because the world-class attacker missed four Bundesliga games at the end of March after a knee injury. Lewandowski was also sorely lacking in Bayern’s Champions League defeat against Paris Saint-Germain. In Munich’s 2-1 defeat in Mainz, he returned to the field three weeks ago and scored his 36th goal of the season.
With 276 Bundesliga goals, the former Borussia Dortmund player is second on the all-time goalscorer list, behind former Bayern striker Müller (365 goals). Lewandowski may also be able to attack this record in the coming years. His current contract in Munich runs until June 30, 2023.
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