Robert Lewandowski will not be at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Poland's failure to survive the European playoffs ended any hope of that, and with it, one of the most decorated strikers of his generation misses what could be his last realistic shot at the tournament. He won't be the only big name watching from home — a string of elite players across Europe and beyond have already been ruled out through injury, qualifying exits, or cruel timing.
Why is Robert Lewandowski not playing at the 2026 World Cup?
It comes down to Poland's qualifying collapse rather than any issue with Robert Lewandowski himself. They finished second in their group behind the Netherlands and entered the expanded 16-team playoff format, which split teams into four groups with semifinals and finals deciding the final spots. Poland beat Albania in their opener, then lost to Sweden on a late goal — and that was it.
At 37, Lewandowski is still producing at a high level for Barcelona. His numbers haven't fallen off a cliff. But his international future is entirely dependent on Poland making tournaments, and Poland right now is a team built disproportionately around him. His 89 goals make him the country's all-time top scorer by a wide margin, and that gap to the next generation tells its own story. When he goes, Poland's presence at major tournaments becomes harder to guarantee.
His last World Cup appearance came in Qatar in 2022, where he scored against Saudi Arabia and France. His most recent goal for the national side came on 26 March 2026 against Albania in a 1-1 draw — which, in hindsight, may well have been his final meaningful contribution in a qualifier. As for 2030, he would be 41. It isn't impossible — Cristiano Ronaldo is still doing it at that age — but it would take something extraordinary.
Poland's World Cup history is worth remembering. Two bronze medals, including a third-place finish over Brazil in 1974 and a win over France in 1982, show how well they once performed on the biggest stage. Those days feel distant now.
Which other star players are missing from the 2026 World Cup?
Lewandowski has plenty of company on the sidelines.
Gianluigi Donnarumma had a standout season for Manchester City after leaving PSG in September, having helped the French club win the Champions League. He was named player of the tournament at Euro 2020, but Italy's penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina — a 4-1 loss on spot kicks — has shut him out of another World Cup.
Serhou Guirassy scored 62 Bundesliga goals over three seasons for Borussia Dortmund and led the Champions League with 13 goals in 2024-25. None of it matters for the World Cup. Guinea finished fourth in their African qualifying group, picking up just four wins and three draws across ten matches.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored in PSG's 5-0 Champions League final win over Inter Milan and finished 12th in the 2025 Ballon d'Or. Georgia's qualifying campaign was bleak — three points from a group containing Spain, Turkey, and Bulgaria. Not much more to say about that.
Victor Osimhen won Serie A with Napoli in 2023 and scored 26 goals in 30 games at Galatasaray to win the Turkish title. Nigeria drew five of their ten group games, finished a point behind South Africa, then lost on penalties to DR Congo in the playoff — with Osimhen already off the pitch when the shootout happened.
Dominik Szoboszlai had a strong season for Liverpool, including some eye-catching long-range goals. Hungary looked on course to qualify but conceded twice in injury time to the Republic of Ireland in their final group game, handing Ireland a playoff spot and eliminating themselves.
Which players are missing the 2026 World Cup due to injury?
This is where the absentee list becomes genuinely painful.
Hugo Ekitike had worked his way into genuine World Cup contention after scoring 17 goals for Liverpool across all competitions this season. Then in April, during a Champions League quarterfinal second leg against PSG at Anfield, he ruptured his Achilles tendon and left the pitch on a stretcher in tears. He is not expected back until January 2027 at the earliest.
Estevao, the 19-year-old Chelsea winger who had already established himself in Brazil's squad under Carlo Ancelotti, suffered a grade four hamstring injury in April and missed the cut. Eight goals and four assists in his debut Premier League season had made him one of the tournament's most anticipated debutants. That debut will have to wait.
Rodrygo made five appearances for Brazil at the 2022 World Cup and was expected to be part of the setup again. A torn meniscus and ACL in his right knee, suffered while playing for Real Madrid in March, ended those plans. He won't be fit until the end of 2026.
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About the Author: Prantik Prabal Roy is a passionate sports writer who eats, breathes, and lives the game. Since 2020, he has been in the content writing industry after completion of his Master's degree in English literature and covering the NFL since 2024 with sharp insights, while also diving into the NHL and MLB with equal enthusiasm. He loves crafting content that drives traffic without sacrificing quality. He blends storytelling with analysis to keep readers hooked. When he's not writing, Prantik can be found cheering on the Buffalo Bills or diving into books that celebrate the world of sports.
