'Very hurt' - Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski reveals why he quit Poland after 'surprise call' from coach Michael Probierz

Shortly after the Polish FA said Lewandowski had been replaced as captain by Inter Milan midfielder Piotr Zielinski on Sunday, the Barca striker said he had "resigned" from playing for the national side as long as Probierz remained in charge. Now the 36-year-old has said this decision is "not about the armband", while lifting the lid on a "surprise call" from the Polish boss about the news. The former Bayern Munich man also accused Probierz of "betraying" his trust.

The veteran told WP SportoweFakty: "I got a surprise call from coach Michał Probierz with the information that he had decided to take away my armband. I was not prepared for it at all, I was putting my children to sleep. The conversation lasted a few minutes. I didn't even have time to inform my family or talk to anyone about what had happened, because a few moments later, a message appeared on the PZPN (Poland) website. The way it was communicated to me is really surprising to me.

"I haven't been captain for a year or two. I've been wearing the armband for eleven years, and I've been playing for the national team for seventeen. It seemed to me that such matters should be handled differently. Especially since there's a lot of time until the next training camp. In addition, we have an important match ahead of us, and everything was communicated over the phone. It really shouldn't be like this. The coach betrayed my trust.

"However, I want to emphasize: it's not like I'm suddenly offended with the national team. Over the years, I've always given the squad everything I have. The national team has always been the most important thing to me. At the same time, I'm very hurt by what happened. It's not even about the decision regarding the armband, but about the way it was communicated to me."

Lewandowski is arguably one of Poland's greatest ever players, if not their greatest, so for him to make a decision like this is pretty seismic. Reports suggest his team-mates are not cut up about this move, quite the opposite, but it remains to be seen if both sides will stand firm with their current stances, as Lewandowski is such a vital player in the Polish team.

Lewandowski would have likely started for Poland in their next 2026 World Cup qualifier away to Finland on Tuesday but now the ex-Borussia Dortmund attacker will stay away from the game, unless an accord can be struck soon.