• Bayern Munich's Polish striker Robert Lewandowski during the award ceremony of the Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw on Monday, March 22, 2021. EPA
    Bayern Munich's Polish striker Robert Lewandowski during the award ceremony of the Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw on Monday, March 22, 2021. EPA
  • Robert Lewandowski receives the Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta from Polish President Andrzej Duda at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw. EPA
    Robert Lewandowski receives the Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta from Polish President Andrzej Duda at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw. EPA
  • Bayern Munich's Polish striker Robert Lewandowski receives the Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta. EPA
    Bayern Munich's Polish striker Robert Lewandowski receives the Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta. EPA
  • Robert Lewandowski with Polish President Andrzej Duda and First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda. EPA
    Robert Lewandowski with Polish President Andrzej Duda and First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda. EPA
  • Robert Lewandowski kicks a ball as Poland's President Andrzej Duda and First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda look on after the award ceremony. Reuters
    Robert Lewandowski kicks a ball as Poland's President Andrzej Duda and First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda look on after the award ceremony. Reuters
  • Robert Lewandowski with Polish President Andrzej Duda and First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw. EPA
    Robert Lewandowski with Polish President Andrzej Duda and First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw. EPA
  • Robert Lewandowski is greeted by Polish First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda. EPA
    Robert Lewandowski is greeted by Polish First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda. EPA
  • Robert Lewandowski was recognised for his outstanding sports achievements and promoting Poland on the international stage. EPA
    Robert Lewandowski was recognised for his outstanding sports achievements and promoting Poland on the international stage. EPA
  • Robert Lewandowski scored a hat-trick during the 4-0 drubbing of Stuttgart at the Allianz Arena in Munich. Getty
    Robert Lewandowski scored a hat-trick during the 4-0 drubbing of Stuttgart at the Allianz Arena in Munich. Getty
  • Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski shakes hands with coach Hansi Flick. Reuters
    Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski shakes hands with coach Hansi Flick. Reuters

Football

Robert Lewandowski joins former US President Eisenhower as recipient of special Polish honour

Star striker awarded Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta for his contribution to football

The National

March 22, 2021

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Football star player Robert Lewandowski added yet title to his growing list of achievements when he received a top honour from the Polish president on Monday.

Lewandowski, who last season won the German league and cup double plus the Champions League with Bayern Munich, received the Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta from his country's President Andrzej Duda.

The honour is conferred on military personnel and civilians for outstanding achievements in their fields. Lewandowski joins the first democratically elected President of Poland Lech Walesa and American President Dwight D. Eisenhower as recipients of the honour.

"No matter how many trophies I have already won... right now my ambition is high and I don't want to rest on my success," Lewandowski said, after accepting the award.

The 32-year-old led Poland to Euro 2020 qualification and was also named the 2019/20 Uefa Men's Player of the Year.

It has been a memorable week for the prolific striker. Lewandowski netted a hat-trick during the 4-0 rout of Stuttgart to become the Bundesliga's joint-second scorer of all time on 268 goals alongside Klaus Fischer, behind Gerd Mueller who has 365.

Gallery: Lewandowski hits treble against Stuttgart

  • Robert Lewandowski, left, celebrates with Serge Gnabry after scoring Bayern Munich's opening goal in their 4-0 Bundesliga win over Stuttgart at the Allianz Arena on Saturday, March 20. AP
    Robert Lewandowski, left, celebrates with Serge Gnabry after scoring Bayern Munich's opening goal in their 4-0 Bundesliga win over Stuttgart at the Allianz Arena on Saturday, March 20. AP
  • Robert Lewandowski heads home his second and Bayern's third goal. Getty
    Robert Lewandowski heads home his second and Bayern's third goal. Getty
  • Bayern Munich's Benjamin Pavard. Reuters
    Bayern Munich's Benjamin Pavard. Reuters
  • Bayern's Polish forward Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal with teammates. AFP
    Bayern's Polish forward Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal with teammates. AFP
  • Stuttgart's Marc-Oliver Kempf challenges Bayern winger Leroy Sane. AP
    Stuttgart's Marc-Oliver Kempf challenges Bayern winger Leroy Sane. AP
  • Referee Daniel Schlager shows Bayern's Alphonso Davies a red card. Getty
    Referee Daniel Schlager shows Bayern's Alphonso Davies a red card. Getty
  • Bayern Munich's Serge Gnabry celebrates scoring their second goal with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. Reuters
    Bayern Munich's Serge Gnabry celebrates scoring their second goal with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. Reuters
  • Bayern forward Robert Lewandowski celebrates completing his first-half hat-trick. AFP
    Bayern forward Robert Lewandowski celebrates completing his first-half hat-trick. AFP
  • Stuttgart's Gonzalo Castro fails to find his way past a Bayern wall from a free-kick. Reuters
    Stuttgart's Gonzalo Castro fails to find his way past a Bayern wall from a free-kick. Reuters
  • Stuttgart goalkeeper Gregor Kobesaves Bayern's Thomas Muller. AP
    Stuttgart goalkeeper Gregor Kobesaves Bayern's Thomas Muller. AP
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