Poland has always been one of the underrated countries in international football, although the Eastern European country has always been a source of quality talent. With The Orly having finished 3rd in both the 1974 and 1982 World Cups and reaching fifth place in the FIFA World Rankings as recently as 2017 – it's fair to say that Poland has a strong football background. But who has proven themselves to be the best name to have ever emerged in Poland over the years? Today with Wintips let's take a look at the best Polish soccer players of all time.
Who is the best football player in Poland
1. Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski, born on August 21, 1988, is a professional football player from Poland. He currently plays as a forward for Barcelona in La Liga and is the captain of the Poland national team. Lewandowski is highly regarded for his sharp positional sense, technique, and finishing ability. He is considered one of the greatest forwards of all time and one of the most successful players in Bundesliga history, having scored over 600 goals for both club and country.
Lewandowski has been a part of the Poland national team since 2008, with over 130 appearances. He has participated in UEFA Euro 2012, Euro 2016, FIFA World Cup 2018, and Euro 2020. With 76 international goals, Lewandowski is Poland's all-time top scorer and ranks third in Europe, behind Ferenc Puskás (84) and Cristiano Ronaldo (117). He is widely regarded as one of the world's finest players.
2. Zbigniew Boniek
Zbigniew Boniek is considered one of Poland's greatest football players of all time. He was a versatile midfielder, capable of playing on the right wing and as a second striker. In 2004, Pelé included him in the list of the 100 greatest living footballers. Boniek scored 24 goals in 80 international appearances and participated in three consecutive World Cups, contributing to Poland's third-place finish in 1982, their best achievement to date.
Boniek's most successful club spell was with Juventus in Serie A in Italy. From 1983 to 1985, Boniek won Serie A, Coppa Italia, UEFA Champions League, European Cup Winners' Cup, and UEFA Super Cup titles. He was an integral part of Poland's golden era of football, alongside greats like Deyna and Lato, and was instrumental in their success both domestically and internationally.
3. Wojciech Szczęsny
Wojciech Tomasz Szczęsny (born 18 April 1990) is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Serie A club Juventus and the Polish national team. Szczęsny began his club career at Legia Warsaw before moving to Arsenal in January 2006, and debuted as a professional in 2009.
As one of Poland's top goalkeepers, Szczęsny has amassed more than 60 caps for the national team since his debut in 2009. He has participated in many major tournaments such as UEFA Euro 2012, Euro 2016, FIFA World Cup 2018 and UEFA Euro 2020, shining and contributing significantly to the success of the Polish team.
During his club career, Szczęsny made significant achievements, with an impressive spell at Arsenal before moving to Juventus. He won many Serie A titles with Juventus and is recognized as one of the top goalkeepers in Italy and Europe.
With his consistent form and considerable experience, Wojciech Szczęsny is one of Polish football's most prominent and reliable players, bringing pride to his country and the teams he has represented.
4. Andrzej Szarmach
Andrzej Szarmach rose to prominence in the 1974 World Cup, replacing Wlodzimierz Lubanski as a striker and forming a great attacking partnership with Grzegorz Lato and Robert Gadocha, supported by Deyna and other teammates. He finished the tournament with 5 goals, second only to Johan Neeskens with a total of 7 goals by Lato.
Szarmach also participated in the 1978 and 1982 World Cups. Like many players of Poland's golden generation, Szarmach faced restrictions imposed by the Polish government, which banned their players from competing abroad until they turned thirty. This policy affected many talented players of that era.
For Szarmach, this restriction was lifted in 1980 when he turned thirty, the same year his teammate Grzegorz Lato moved to Stal Mielec. Unlike Lato, who moved to Belgium, Szarmach went to France and played for Auxerre for 5 years, scoring nearly 100 goals in 150 matches.
5. Grzegorz Lato
Grzegorz Lato gained fame in the early 1970s with his distinctive hairstyle reminiscent of Bobby Charlton's, along with outstanding performances on the right wing, making him a formidable opponent for defenders. He was a key part of Poland's first golden generation of players and made a significant impact at the 1974 World Cup. Lato scored the most goals in the tournament with 7 goals, helping Poland achieve third place—their best finish in major tournaments to date.
Unfortunately, despite being just 24 years old at the 1974 World Cup and in good form, Poland at that time enforced a policy that prohibited players from moving abroad until they turned 30, limiting Lato's international appearances to major tournaments. He dedicated his entire career to Stal Mielec and only moved abroad in 1980 when he turned 30, joining Belgian club Lokeren.
6. Łukasz Fabiański
Łukasz Marek Fabiański, born on April 18, 1985, is a professional Polish footballer known for his role as a goalkeeper at West Ham United in the English Premier League. Fabiański represented the Poland national team from 2006 until his retirement in 2021. He began his career at Legia Warsaw before moving to Arsenal for £2.1 million in 2007. Despite mainly being a backup, he played a crucial role in Arsenal's FA Cup triumph in 2014.
After leaving Arsenal in 2014, Fabiański joined Swansea City and played a total of 150 games over 4 years. He then moved to West Ham for £7 million. Fabiański was an important international player for Poland, earning 57 caps from 2006. He was part of Poland's squads for FIFA World Cup 2006, UEFA Euro 2008, Euro 2016, FIFA World Cup 2018, and UEFA Euro 2020.
7. Jakub Piotr Kiwior
Jakub Piotr Kiwior (born 15 February 2000) is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a defender for Spezia and the Polish national team. He started his career in the Fortuna Liga playing for Železiarne Podbrezová on 16 February 2019 in a match against Nitra. In this match, he contributed to the 3–1 victory of the Zobor team.
Then, in August 2019, Kiwior moved to MŠK Žilina. He made his debut for the team on 10 August 2019 in an away match against Ružomberok. Showcasing his role in the Polish national team, Kiwior made his official debut in a 2–2 draw with the Netherlands in the framework of the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League on 11 June 2022.
8. Jakub Błaszczykowski
Jakub Błaszczykowski is considered one of Poland's greatest footballers of all time, shining as a winger for Wisła Kraków and renowned for his speed and technical abilities. He joined Borussia Dortmund in 2007 and had a long-standing association with the club. At Dortmund, Kuba won two Bundesliga titles, two DFL-Supercups, and one DFB-Pokal, playing nearly 250 matches.
In 2008 and 2010, Błaszczykowski was named Polish Footballer of the Year. He is the second-most capped player in Poland's history and was the captain of the Poland national team at UEFA Euro 2012. Kuba also participated in the 2018 World Cup and UEFA Euro 2016, where he played a crucial role. At Euro 2016, Poland reached the quarterfinals, with Kuba scoring two goals, including one in the decisive penalty shootout win against Switzerland.
9. Kazimierz Deyna
Kazimierz Deyna is one of Poland's most famous footballers in history. He is considered one of the greatest players of his generation, playing as an attacking midfielder known for his creative flair and spectacular goals, including impressive direct corner kicks. Deyna received numerous fan votes in Poland for his achievements and talents.
In addition to his club career, Deyna was a pillar of the Poland national team. He was a key member of the team led by Kazimierz Górski, achieving the greatest successes in their history. With 41 goals in 97 international appearances, Deyna often served as captain. Following Poland's success at the World Cup, Deyna finished third in the 1974 French Football magazine Player of the Year voting, behind Johan Cruyff and Franz Beckenbauer. He also captained Poland at the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina, where the team reached the direct elimination stage, demonstrating his leadership and influence both in Poland and the international football community.
10. Ernest Pohl
In the 1950s, Poland was still recovering from the aftermath of World War II, but during that time, the country produced top football talents, including Ernest Pohl. Pohl's decision to stay in his homeland yielded impressive results, as he became a prolific goal scorer for Górnik Zabrze in the 1950s and 1960s. From 1957 to 1967, Górnik Zabrze won the Ekstraklasa title eight times, with Ernest Pohl making significant contributions.
With relentless effort, Pohl helped Górnik Zabrze become one of the strongest teams in Poland and Europe at that time. In addition to his success with Górnik Zabrze, Ernest Pohl achieved impressive feats in his career. He played a crucial role in winning two more Ekstraklasa titles with Legia Warsaw. In total, Pohl won 11 championships in 12 seasons from 1955 to 1967, an undeniable achievement in Polish football history.
Conclude
Overall, Poland has produced many of the best Polish soccer players. From famous stars such as Zbigniew Boniek and Kazimierz Deyna to modern talents such as Robert Lewandowski and Wojciech Szczęsny, each individual has made an indispensable contribution to the development and prestige of Polish football internationally. These stars not only make impressive achievements for the national team but are also great symbols of the club, bringing important trophies to the teams they represent. Their careers and success are testament to the strength and prestige of global Polish football.
