Lewandowski shocks Barcelona before El Clásico

Spanish club Barcelona announced on Tuesday that Polish striker Robert Lewandowski suffered a muscle tear in his left thigh following his participation with his country's national team in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The club's statement read: "Robert Lewandowski has suffered a tear in his left biceps femoris. The length of his absence will depend on the progress of his recovery." Although the length of his absence has not been officially determined, Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo reported that the player will be sidelined for up to six weeks, meaning he will definitely miss the upcoming El Clásico against Real Madrid. Lewandowski sustained the injury during Poland's 2-0 win over Lithuania in the European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, where he scored his country's second goal before leaving the field injured. In another development, the Spanish newspaper Sport revealed that Barcelona's management has decided not to renew Lewandowski's contract, which expires at the end of the current season. The club's management believes that the 37-year-old player is no longer capable of handling the intense pressure employed by the team under the coach's leadership, and that his physical and technical decline makes his continued presence unsuitable for the team's future ambitions.