Matty Cash believes fellow Polish Robert Lewandowski can still rival Erling Haaland and Harry Kane as one of the best strikers in world football.
Lewandowski turned 37 last August, but has scored seven goals in nine games for Barcelona this season, and is set to lead Poland’s attack in two crucial World Cup qualifiers against the Netherlands and Malta, starting on Friday.
He is Poland’s all-time top scorer with 87 goals from 161 appearances having established himself as one of Europe’s most prolific strikers since joining Borussia Dortmund from Lech Poznań in 2010 before an eight-year spell at Bayern Munich.
Haaland and Kane have been in good form this season with Manchester City and Bayern respectively, but in an exclusive interview, Aston Villa defender Cash told ESPN’s ‘The Football Reporters’ podcast: “Every time I click on LiveScore and go to Barcelona, he’s scored! So obviously he’s getting a little older now, but his fitness and stuff, he’s still a beast.”
“He still has the desire to score. Obviously Haaland and Kane may be younger than him and Haaland, I think he is on another level and will improve.”
“But I think he (Lewandowski) is definitely still at the level. He’s still scoring goals at the highest level, and he’s playing for one of the biggest clubs in Europe, so he’s still there.”
Lewandowski ranks third on the Champions League top scorers list with 105 goals, behind Lionel Messi (129) and Cristiano Ronaldo (140).
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He is one of only 15 players to have scored more than 700 goals for club and country in men’s football, and is ranked 13th on that list. “He is an inspiration to the country,” Cash said. “If it wasn’t for him, I don’t think football would be as big.”
“Last month when I was in Poland, I was going through his numbers just to take a look at him because he’s an absolute beast, honestly.
“His hunger to achieve goals and his hunger to succeed is next level. Being with someone like that, working around him so closely and seeing how they live their lives only benefits you.
“His numbers, it should be (Cristiano) Ronaldo, (Lionel) Messi and then him for sure, and that shows how good he is.”
