The Polish national football team is facing a crisis after its all-time leading scorer, Robert Lewandowski, declared that he will not represent his country as long as Michal Probierz remains the coach. This bombshell announcement comes shortly after Probierz made the decision to strip Lewandowski of the captaincy, a move that has clearly fractured the relationship between the two.

The Polish Football Association (PZPN) announced on Sunday that Inter Milan midfielder Piotr Zielinski would be the new captain of the national team. According to the PZPN, Probierz personally informed Lewandowski, the team, and the coaching staff about his decision. This decision appears to have infuriated Lewandowski, leading to a complete breakdown in his relationship with the national coach.

Lewandowski swiftly responded to the news via social media, stating, "Taking into account the circumstances and a loss of trust in the coach, I have decided to resign from playing for the Poland national team for as long as he remains in charge. I hope I will still have another chance to play again for the best fans in the world."

The Barcelona striker's decision to step away from international duty is a significant blow to Poland, especially with crucial World Cup qualifiers on the horizon. The team is currently leading Group G after victories against Lithuania and Malta. They are scheduled to face Finland in Helsinki for their next qualifier.

Lewandowski's absence from the national team squad had already been a topic of discussion. He was not included in the team for the friendly match against Moldova. At the time, it was reported that he had requested to be excused from duty to rest after a demanding season with Barcelona, where he helped the team secure the La Liga title and Copa del Rey double.

Michal Probierz took over as Poland's coach in September 2023. The team finished at the bottom of their group at Euro 2024.

The 36-year-old Lewandowski has had an illustrious career with the Polish national team, making 158 appearances and scoring a record 85 goals since his debut in 2008. He has captained the team since 2014 and has led Poland in two World Cups and five European Championships.

The conflict between Lewandowski and Probierz marks a significant low point for Polish football. It remains to be seen whether the two sides can reconcile. The coach will be answering the questions in a press conference before Tuesday's World Cup qualifier against Finland.