The Polish striker gave the Spanish champions a ninth-minute lead from the penalty spot after Marcos Alonso had handled Fermin Lopez’s shot in the area.

Celta Vigo immediately responded as Sergio Carreira finished off a counter-attack 22 seconds after Barcelona’s Marcus Rashford had a one-on-one chance saved.

Rashford made up for his miss in the 36th minute when his cross found Lewandwoski who restored the visitors’ lead with a volleyed finish.

But mid-table Celta Vigo hit back again in a frantic first half through Borja Iglesias’ curling effort into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Teenager Lamine Yamal then gave his side the lead for a third time in first-half stoppage time as he dispatched Rashford’s deflected cross at the back post.

And in the 73rd minute Lewandowski completed his hat-trick by heading in Rashford’s corner at the near post.

The 37-year-old now has three La Liga hat-tricks, to add to his tally of 16 in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

Barcelona had to play the final four minutes of stoppage time with 10 men after midfielder Frenkie de Jong received a second yellow card for tripping Iago Aspas.

The win ensured Barcelona took advantage of Real Madrid dropping points earlier on Sunday as Xabi Alonso’s side played out a drab draw with city rivals Rayo Vallecano.

The 37-year-old, who scored for Poland in a 2-0 World Cup qualifying win against Lithuania on Sunday, will not feature in his club’s La Liga game against Girona this weekend.

Barcelona then face Olympiakos in the Champions League next Tuesday before taking on Real Madrid in El Clasico at the Bernabeu on 26 October.

Barcelona have not indicated how long Lewandowski is expected to be missing for, but Spanish media have suggested, external it could be about four weeks.

“Robert Lewandowski has suffered a hamstring injury in his left thigh. He will be sidelined, and his recovery time will depend on how the injury progresses,” Barcelona said in a statement.

Lewandowski, who has scored four goals in nine appearances for the La Liga champions this season, joins Raphinha, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Joan Garcia on the sidelines.

However, forwards Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez have returned to training.

“To Manchester United I decided and said yes,” he told BBC Sport. “I wanted to join Manchester United, to see Alex Ferguson.”

The prospect of a move to the Red Devils came in 2012, when Lewandowski was scoring prolifically at Borussia Dortmund – and two years after a volcanic eruption in Iceland had put paid to his Blackburn switch.

However, the German club simply did not want to let their talismanic striker go.

“They could not sell me,” Lewandowski said. “Because they knew if I stayed they could earn more money, and that I could wait maybe one or two more years.

“But it is true that I said yes to Manchester United.”

While that move failed to materialise, Lewandowski has enjoyed a stellar career at some of Europe’s biggest clubs, winning the Champions League with Bayern Munich and La Liga twice at his current club Barcelona.

At 37 he has no plans to retire any time soon, but accepts a Premier League opportunity has probably passed him by.

Speaking in a wide-ranging interview with Liam MacDevitt, Lewandowski added: “Maybe it could be a regret [not to play in the Premier League].

“But when I am looking back [having] played for Bayern Munich, Dortmund and now Barcelona I have to say I am very happy with my career.

“I don’t have this kind of feeling that I missed something, because every move or decision… I made because I wanted it.”

‘I learn a lot from the young players’

Image source: AFP via Getty Images

Image caption: Robert Lewandowski is the old head in a young Barcelona team

Lewandowski, who has scored more than 700 career goals for club and country, is preparing for his 22nd season as a professional.

He is now the old head in a young Barcelona team featuring supreme talents like Lamine Yamal, but the Poland international believes he still has plenty to offer.

“When I see that I still don’t have to catch the young guys, that they still have to catch me, it means this next season can also be very good,” he said.

“I am still there to show the best performance from myself.”

Lamine Yamal was not even born when Lewandowski’s career began, but despite being 19 years his senior, the striker believes he is still learning from younger players.

“I understood that I cannot fight with them but I can help them and they can also help me,” Lewandowski said.

“I learn from them a lot. I didn’t think it would happen like that.”

Lamine Yamal is widely viewed as a future superstar, and Lewandowski said he could see the winger was special from the moment he trained with the first team aged just 15.

“It is the first time in my life I saw after 50 minutes that he had something special,” he said.

“I didn’t believe it because I didn’t see this kind of player at this age – I thought this is impossible at 15.”

When Lewandowski came close to winning the Ballon d’Or

The latest nominees for the Ballon d’Or have been announced, and for Lewandowski this time of year will be a reminder of just how close he came to winning the award.

He was among the favourites for the 2020 edition which was cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A year later he finished runner-up to Lionel Messi for the main prize, and was named striker of the year after a record-breaking season when he scored 41 league goals.

“I was in the best moment of my career, I won everything with my club,” he said.

“I think the difficult thing with that case is until now I don’t know why.”

On who could win it this year, Lewandowski added: “You have so many players now who can [win the Ballon d’Or].

“Lamine Yamal’s season was incredible but in the end it depends what is most important. He still has a lot of time, if not this year maybe next year.

“Raphinha also had an amazing season. We have players who can be one of the favourites to win this kind of title.”

The conversation that changed Lewandowski’s career

Image source: AFP via Getty Images

Image caption: Robert Lewandowski played for Jurgen Klopp in his four years at Borussia Dortmund

Lewandowski has played under some leading managers during his career and is currently working under Hansi Flick, who was also in charge during his trophy-laden spell at Bayern Munich.

But it is former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp – who Lewandowski played under at Dortmund – who had the biggest influence on the striker.

“When I moved to Dortmund I was a very young guy, I lost my father when I was 16,” he said.

“I for sure was a boy who was more closed, I didn’t want to speak about my emotion.

“However, after a few years I met someone who I don’t want to say was like a father but similar.

“Maybe after so many years the kind of conversation that I missed with my father, I had with Jurgen.

“I remember the conversation until now because it changed my life, it changed my football life. I put my emotion out, I put out the words I had kept in for a few years and after this I felt freedom.

“Maybe because of this I started to play better and better.”

Barcelona pulled off a late 4-3 comeback victory against Celta on Saturday evening to extend their lead at the top of La Liga, but there were immediate concerns amid the celebrations, given Lewandowski was substituted in the 78th minute.

The Polish veteran clutched his hamstring in pain, and on Sunday, Barcelona released a statement on their official website giving details on the injury.

“Tests carried out this Sunday have confirmed that first-team player Robert Lewandowski has an injury to the semitendinosus muscle in his left thigh,” they wrote – the semitendinosus muscle being one of three in the hamstring.

However, there is no indication when the 36-year-old will be expected back, with the statement adding: “His return to team training will depend on how the injury progresses.”

Barca’s next match is on Tuesday evening in the league, at home to Mallorca.

It seems unlikely that Lewandowski will be fit for the Copa del Rey against Real Madrid on April 26, and there will be doubts over his involvement in their UEFA Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan, with the first leg on April 30 at the Nou Camp.

Lewandowski has scored 40 goals in 48 appearances so far this season, and is the top scorer for the Catalans in the current campaign.

Pau Victor, Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres are all options for Barcelona manager Hansi Flick as he searches for alternatives to the experienced Lewandowski.

Barcelona are currently seven points clear at the top of La Liga, with second-placed Real Madrid playing on Sunday evening at home to Athletic Club, with a game in hand.

Ladislav Krejci’s own goal had given the hosts a deserved first-half lead against their Catalan rivals, who threatened to cause a shock when Arnaut Danjuma levelled against the run of play early in the second half.

However, Poland forward Lewandowski put Hansi Flick’s side back ahead just after the hour mark with an improvised finish, and he then scored his 25th league goal of the season after some fine midfield play from substitute Frenkie de Jong.

Ferran Torres rounded off the scoring late on with a low effort into the bottom corner.

It was the perfect response from Barcelona, who watched their great foes Real Madrid fight back to beat Leganes and move level on points at the summit of the Spanish top flight on Saturday.

Flick’s team have now won their past nine matches in La Liga and will head into Wednesday’s second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final with Atletico Madrid – finely balanced at 4-4 – full of confidence.

After a frustrating opening period for the hosts, the 36-year-old broke the deadlock just after the hour-mark as he volleyed home from close range following Lamine Yamal’s volleyed cross.

It was the first and last clear-cut chance for Hansi Flick’s side, but it was enough to clinch all three points as they kept their first clean sheet in 11 games in the league.

Chances were at even more of a premium for the visitors, who made a number of dangerous runs in behind but were constantly being caught out by Barcelona’s offside trap.

Following Real Madrid’s surprise loss against Espanyol on Saturday, the result sees Barcelona move to within four points of Los Blancos, and three points of Atletico Madrid in second.

Espanyol’s victory saw Alaves slip into the relegation zone and that is where they remain following this defeat, two points adrift of Las Palmas, Leganes and Espanyol.

Up next for Hansi Flick’s side is a Copa del Rey tie with Valencia on Thursday before they return to La Liga action next weekend with a visit to Sevilla.

As for Alaves, their Copa del Rey exit in December means they have a full week off before their next match, which comes in the form of a home match in the league against Getafe.

The one sour note for the hosts was Gavi’s departure after just ten minutes following a nasty clash of heads with Tomas Conechny, who was withdrawn on a stretcher.

Only Cristiano Ronaldo with 141 and Lionel Messi with 129 have scored more times than the 36-year-old in Europe’s elite competition.

Lewandowski’s 100th goal came from the penalty spot in the 10th minute after Brest goalkeeper Marco Bizot crashed into the back of the Poland striker.

Dani Olmo scored his first Champions League goal for Barcelona and gave them some breathing space after a superb first touch took him beyond Brendan Chardonnet before he slid the ball under Bizot to make it 2-0.

Lewandowski capped a stunning Barcelona display with his second of the night – and 101st in the competition – after slotting into the bottom corner with ease following a fantastic spin in the box.

The La Liga leaders dominated the ball throughout with 77% of possession as they limited the French side to no efforts on target.

Olmo had another fantastic chance in the second half to find the net but Brest captain Chardonnet superbly cleared the ball off the line.

In a rare attack, Brest found the back of the net after Mathias Pereira Lage drilled the ball beyond Inaki Pena but the flag was quickly raised for offside.

Substitute Pablo Torre should have wrapped up the three points with five minutes remaining but his poor effort was slipped wide of the post.

Barcelona have moved up to second in the league phase table after winning four of their five matches, while Brest slip to eighth.

Lewandowski, 36, took his tally to 14 goals in 12 games in all competitions – and 10 in his past six – as Hansi Flick’s side produced an emphatic response to Real Madrid’s 2-1 win at Celta Vigo on Saturday.

Barcelona, who have won nine of their opening 10 league games, led 3-0 at half-time for the third match in a row after Lewandowski scored either side of Pedri’s spectacular first-time strike.

Lewandowski tucked his 24th-minute penalty into the bottom corner after Raphinha went down under minimal contact from Peque Fernandez.

Pedri smashed in from the edge of the box just four minutes later, before Lewandowski – moments earlier denied at close range by Orjan Nyland – added his second by meeting Raphinha’s pass.

Poland striker Lewandowski is now the joint-third highest scorer of all time across Europe’s top-five leagues, level with Jimmy Greaves on 366 and behind only Cristiano Ronaldo (495) and Lionel Messi (496).

Pablo Torre scored twice late on, either side of Stanis Idumbo’s consolation for the visitors, who were no match for a free-flowing, youthful Barcelona, for whom half the starting outfield players were aged 21 or under.

Substitute Torre, 21, scored a deflected fourth and added his second from a direct free-kick after Idumbo got in behind the Barcelona defence to score with Sevilla’s only shot on target.

There was more than the goals for the home crowd to celebrate at the Olympic Stadium – Barcelona’s temporary home during the Nou Camp renovation – as the returning Gavi received a warm reception 11 months after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

Flick’s side followed their first defeat of the season against Osasuna by beating Young Boys 5-0 in the Champions League and Alaves 3-0 in La Liga before the October international break.

Barcelona now face two huge games next week, when they host Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday before visiting title rivals Real on Saturday.

Real Madrid’s home victory over Villarreal on Saturday evening had temporarily moved them level with Hansi Flick’s side.

However, the visitors – who suffered a shock defeat by Osasuna last weekend – always looked in control after Lewandowski nodded them in front early on from Raphinha’s curling delivery.

The 36-year-old’s second, a close-range finish, came after more good work from the Brazilian.

And his and Barca’s third came as he reversed a shot past home goalkeeper Antonio Sivera from Eric Garcia’s pass.

The Poland forward has now scored 12 goals in 11 games in all competitions for Barca, who are averaging over three goals a game in the Spanish top flight this term.

“I had some good passes and they made it easier for me to score,” Lewandowski said on DAZN.

“We played well from the first minute and we wanted to attack and score goals. We were more in control in the second half.

“We have a very good group. I think we can play better but we have improved all the things we lacked.”

The hosts, who threatened sporadically, thought they had pulled a goal back on the stroke of half-time but Toni Martinez’s goal was ruled out for an offside in the build-up.

Lewandowski struck after eight minutes for the hosts, poking home Raphinha’s ball across the box at the back post.

Barca doubled their lead as Brazil forward Raphinha netted the rebound from Pedri’s blocked shot.

The La Liga leaders continued to dominate as Inigo Martinez added another goal three minutes later, heading in from close range after Pedri’s pinpoint free-kick.

Six minutes into the second half Barca found the back of the net once more, with Martinez’s header back across goal prodded in by Lewandowski.

Joel Monteiro’s strike hit the crossbar in the away side’s best chance of the match.

Young Boys’ misery was compounded in the 81st minute when Mohamed Ali Camara turned Alejandro Balde’s cross into his own net.

Monteiro thought he had a goal back for Young Boys in stoppage time but his low finish was ruled out for offside following a video assistant referee (VAR) check.

The Swiss champions remain winless after losing 3-0 to Aston Villa in their opener.

It was a case of try and try again for Lewandowski, who hit the post either side of half-time – first a curling effort and then a bullet header – and then saw a stinging half-volley blocked by Alex Padilla.

Padilla could do nothing to stop the winner though, where the ball fell to the Polish striker after a smart run and cross from Pedri.

After a stale opening, Lamine Yamal lit up the game with a run and 25-yard curling effort which deflected past Padilla, but the lead was cancelled out before the break after VAR ruled that Pau Cubarsi clipped the heels of Alex Berenguer in the box. Oihan Sancet sent Marc-Andre ter Stegen the wrong way from the spot.

Barcelona dominated the second half and were good value for the victory which sees them share the early La Liga lead with Celta Vigo.

Former Germany boss Flick’s side were made to come from behind after Hugo Duro tapped a Diego Lopez cross past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

The first half was a slow burner before Duro’s 44th-minute opener. At that point it burst into life, with Duro having an effort cleared off the line before Robert Lewandowski connected with Lamine Yamal’s drilled pass to level.

Valencia had put up a strong showing before the break, but Barcelona then showed their superiority and went ahead as veteran striker Lewandowski converted from the penalty spot in the 49th minute after Raphinha was tripped inside the box.

Yamal was a constant threat and the 17-year-old’s dribbling on the wings proved tough for Valencia to handle.

Valencia caused trouble of their own with Barcelona often being sloppy in midfield, and the hosts were strong on the counter-attack.

But Flick’s men were ultimately a class above and managed the rest of the game well to nullify Valencia’s threats and collect all three points.

Barcelona, who finished 10 points behind champions Real Madrid as runners-up last season, face Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, 24 August (18:00 BST) in their next La Liga game.

The AC Milan player, 28, successfully kept out a penalty from Poland’s Robert Lewandowski but the referee ordered it to be retaken because the keeper had strayed off his line before the ball was kicked.

Lewandowski, who used a stuttered run-up for both penalties, scored the second one to earn Poland a 1-1 draw and ensure France only finished second in Group D.

A post on Maignan’s Instagram was headlined “as the attacker begins his 87th feint in his run-up,” in reference to the incident.

He also joked: “New Ifab rules for penalties in 2026: Goalkeepers must have their backs turned at the time of the shot. In case of a save, an indirect free-kick.”

Maignan included a link to a story from 2023 about new rules from football’s law-makers Ifab, stating that goalkeepers are not allowed to do anything that “unfairly distracts the kicker”, such as touching the posts or crossbar.

They were already required to have “at least part of one foot touching, in line with, or behind, the goalline” when the ball is kicked.

Penalty takers are allowed to feint their run-up, but cannot feint taking the kick once the run-up is complete.

Maignan, who has 19 caps, is playing in his first major tournament for France after long-time number one Hugo Lloris retired after the 2022 World Cup.

Their last-16 match will take place in Dusseldorf on Monday, with their opponents to be confirmed after Wednesday’s final group games.

The 35-year-old sustained the injury in a 2-1 win against Turkey on Monday as both sides played their final warm-up game before the tournament.

Lewandowski, who plays for Barcelona, came off after 33 minutes.

Poland play Austria in their second game on 21 June before their final Group D game against France on 25 June.

“Lewandowski suffered a rupture of the biceps femoris muscle, which will exclude him from the first match of the tournament,” said a Poland statement.

Defender Pawel Dawidowicz and striker Karol Swiderski also suffered injuries but should “return to full training within three to four days”.

The hosts, who are on the cusp of relinquishing the La Liga title to Real Madrid despite the victory, took the lead when Fermin Lopez struck.

Hudo Duro soon levelled then Pepelu’s penalty gave Valencia the lead.

But they had Mamardashvili sent off just before half-time and the 35-year-old Poland striker took full advantage.

Lewandowski equalised early in the second half with a header then nodded in a rebound before getting his third from a free-kick in added time.

Barcelona remain second in La Liga, 11 points behind Real Madrid with five games remaining.

Valencia stay eighth and face a battle to qualify for Europe next season as they lie four points behind sixth-place Real Sociedad.

The Poland striker put the visitors ahead with a powerful angled drive just before half-time.

Iago Aspas levelled for Celta, who are fourth bottom of La Liga, shortly after the restart with a deflected strike.

But Lewandowski clinched victory from the spot, leaving third-placed Barca seven points behind Real Madrid.

Leaders Real, who travel to city rivals Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, are five points clear of second-placed Girona after they were held 1-1 at Villarreal on Friday.

Barcelona have claimed 24 points with goals scored after the 76th minute – the most in the Spanish top-flight this season.

The Catalans are also unbeaten in four matches since head coach Xavi announced he would step down at the end of the season.

Xavi’s side face Napoli on Wednesday in the Champions League last 16, with the European competition being their last realistic chance of silverware this season.

Atletico Madrid are fourth, three points behind Barca, after they thrashed visitors Las Palmas 5-0 on Saturday.

Marcos Llorente and Angel Correa both scored twice for Atletico before substitute Memphis Depay added a late fifth.

The hosts recorded a comfortable victory despite Rojiblancos manager Diego Simeone resting key players – including France forward Antoine Griezmann – before their midweek Champions League last-16 tie at Inter Milan.

Elsewhere, Cadiz remain in the relegation zone after a 2-0 defeat at 11th-placed Osasuna.

Samu Omorodion’s goal after 18 seconds had given the visitors a shock lead.

Lewandowski headed the hosts level from Jules Kounde’s cross and then scored the winner from the penalty spot after Raphinha was fouled.

The result leaves Barca third in the table, four points behind surprise leaders Girona and two adrift of second-placed Real Madrid.

Lewandowski’s goals were his sixth and seventh in the Spanish top flight this season, ending a run of six games without a goal for the 35-year-old, his worst sequence at club level since February 2011 with Borussia Dortmund.

However, they masked a disjointed performance from Xavi’s side, with Omorodion’s goal the fastest conceded by Barcelona in a home league match this century.

The hosts, who were playing in a half-empty Barcelona Olympic Stadium, with the Nou Camp under renovation, were also fortunate not to fall further behind with Omorodion missing a glorious close-range chance to double Alaves’ lead.

“We need to be conscious about our moment and be self-critical, we are not playing good football lately and need to improve mightily going forward,” Xavi told Movistar Plus.

“The international break has arrived in good time and will do good for us, so we can reflect and work hard to correct our mistakes. I’m optimistic and I think we have enough talent and grit to come back much better in two weeks.”

The Barcelona striker capitalised on an error by Saudi Arabia midfielder Abdelulelah Al Malki before sending a composed finish past onrushing goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais.

Lewandowski was visibly emotional after ending a run of four World Cup games without finding the net.

Piotr Zielinski had given Poland a first-half lead from Lewandowski’s cutback, but Saudi Arabia were awarded a penalty five minutes later for Krystian Bielik’s foul on Saleh Al Shehri.

Wojciech Szczesny kept out Feras Al Brikan’s effort before producing a sensational one-handed stop to prevent Mohammed Al Burayk from burying the rebound.

Saud Abdulhamid was denied by Sczcesny and Al Brikan shot over the bar in the second half, while Arkadiusz Milik and Lewandowski were both denied by the woodwork as Poland sought to double their lead on the counter-attack.

Lewandowski’s late strike ended Saudi Arabia’s hopes of building on Tuesday’s remarkable victory over Argentina and boosts Poland’s hopes of reaching the last 16 for the first time since 1986, when they were beaten 4-0 by Brazil in the first knockout round.

Czeslaw Michniewicz’s team play Argentina in their final Group C game on Wednesday, while Saudi Arabia face Mexico at the same time.

It looked set to be a frustrating night for Xavi Hernandez, who also lost defenders Eric Garcia and Jules Kounde to injury, until Lewandowski popped up in the third minute of injury-time to score.

Desperate to bounce back after a disappointing exit from the Champions League group stages, Barcelona dominated from the first whistle, eager to take the initiative.

The best early chances fell to Ansu Fati, who was restored to the side having been dropped to the bench for the defeat to Bayern Munich on Wednesday. The 19-year-old was through on goal but couldn’t find a way past onrushing goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and minutes later he found the back of the net but was clearly in an offside position, cutting short his celebrations.

Lewandowski went even closer on the stroke of half-time, his header from Jordi Alba’s cross crashing agonisingly off the base of the post.

Valencia thought they had taken the lead against the run of play a few minutes after the restart when Samuel Lino finished confidently. However, the goal was chalked off following a lengthy VAR check which showed the ball brushed the arm of Marcos Andre in the build-up.

Gennaro Gattuso’s tactical tweaks ensured Valencia were much more organised than they had been in the first half, and they largely limited Barcelona to half chances in the second period.

There were warning signs though as Ferran Torres failed to connect with Pedri’s cross with the goal gaping before Lewandowski stretched to meet Raphinha’s delivery to bag the winning goal.

Victory sees Barcelona ahead of Real Madrid on goal difference, but Los Blancos will play their game in hand on Sunday at home to Girona. Meanwhile, Valencia remain 10th.

Barca, who lost 3-1 at Real Madrid on Sunday, hit three goals in seven minutes at the end of the first half.

Lewandowski grabbed his first when he collected Jordi Alba’s cross, spun and shot past Geronimo Rulli and added another soon after from Gavi’s pass.

Ansu Fati made it 3-0 in the 38th minute to leave Barca second in La Liga, three points behind Real Madrid.

The success was Barca’s first in three matches after Lewandowski scored an injury-time equaliser in the 3-3 home draw with Inter Milan in the Champions League, before they lost the El Clasico encounter at the Bernabeu.

Lewandowski, 34, becomes only the third player since 2000 to pass the 600-goal career mark after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

His double against Villarreal at the Nou Camp took his goal tally to 16 in 14 games in all competitions since moving from Bayern Munich in a £42.6m summer transfer.

At Bayern, Lewandowski scored 344 times in 375 games and netted 103 times in 186 appearances for previous club Borussia Dortmund.

Before moving to Germany, he scored 21 times for Znicz Pruszkow and 41 goals for fellow Polish side Lech Poznan and has also scored 76 goals in 134 international matches for Poland.

Robert Lewandowski scored twice against the league’s bottom side to help Barca leapfrog Real Madrid in the standings by a single point, for one evening at least. Real take on fierce rivals Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

The result for Elche, meanwhile, means they remain rooted to the bottom of the table on just one point after match where their captain and manager got sent off.

Barcelona dominated from the first minute and a real breakthrough for the hosts came in the 14th minute when Elche’s captain Gonzalo Verdu was shown a straight red card for rugby tackling Lewandowski as he looked set to be clear through on goal.

Barca deservedly took the lead in the 34th minute through the in-form Pole. Alejandro Balde’s low driven ball across the goalmouth was tapped in by the striker at the far post for his tenth goal of the season in all competitions.

The hosts extended their advantage four minutes before the break when Memphis Depay spun his marker John Chetauya inside the box before smashing his shot into the roof of the net.

Barca had the ball in the net again moments later through Pedri, but Lewandowski was offside in the build-up. Nevertheless, Elche boss Francisco Rodriguez was furious and was subsequently sent off by referee Alejandro Ruiz.

Lewandowski got his second and Barca’s third shortly after the break. In the 48th minute, Ousmane Dembele’s low cross was not cleared properly at the near post. The ball squirmed out to Depay who laid it off for Lewandowski to fire in.

Ronald Araujo came closest to getting a fourth for Barca, but his acrobatic scissor-kick volley from two yards out following a corner flied just wide of the post.

The 33-year-old had one year left on his contract with the German champions but in May said: “My story with Bayern is over.”.

He has joined his new team-mates in Miami as part of Barcelona’s four-match tour in the United States.

“I’m finally here. I’m delighted to be at Barca,” Lewandowski said.

“The last few days have been very long, but the deal is done and now I can focus on a new chapter and challenge in my life.

“I’ve always wanted to play in La Liga and for the big clubs.

“I’m here to help Barca get back to the top and win as many titles as possible.”

Lewandowski, who had a buyout clause of 500m euros (£425.9m), joined Bayern on a free transfer in 2014 after his departure from Borussia Dortmund.

He scored 50 goals in 46 games last season as he helped Bayern win a 10th straight Bundesliga title.

Lewandowski has scored 344 times in 374 games for the club and is their second-highest scorer of all time behind Gerd Muller.

He has won the league in all eight of his seasons at Bayern and also won the Champions League in 2019-20.

Lewandowski is Barcelona’s fourth signing of the summer following Brazil winger Raphinha joining from Leeds United in a deal worth up to £55m, while Ivory Coast midfielder Franck Kessie and Denmark defender Andreas Christensen have arrived on free transfers after their respective contracts with AC Milan and Chelsea came to an end.

France winger Ousmane Dembele has also signed a contract extension with Barcelona this summer.

In August 2021, Barcelona president Joan Laporta revealed the club’s “very worrying” 1.35bn euro (£1.15bn) debt.

Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann said Barcelona is “the only club in the world that has no money but can buy every player”.

He added: “It’s kind of weird and kind of crazy for me but at the end they find solutions. I don’t know how.”

The 33-year-old, who has one year left on his Bayern contract, told the club last month that he wishes to leave.

Lewandowski scored 50 goals in 46 games last season as he helped Bayern win a 10th straight Bundesliga title.

“It’s good to have clarity for all parties,” said Bayern president Herbert Hainer.

“We have come to a verbal agreement with Barcelona.

“Robert is an incredible player and he won everything with us. We are incredibly grateful to him.”

Lewandowski joined Bayern on a free transfer from Borussia Dortmund in 2014 and has scored 344 times in 374 games for the club, making him their second-highest scorer of all time behind Gerd Muller.

The Pole has won the league in all eight of his seasons at Bayern and also helped the Bavarians win the Champions League in 2019-20.

Bayern have also announced that Germany winger Serge Gnabry, 27, has signed a contract extension until 2026.

Barcelona completed the signing of Raphinha from Leeds on Friday in a deal worth up to £55m having already signed Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen on free transfers earlier this month.

Lewandowski, 33, claimed the prize for the second consecutive year after scoring 69 goals.

He won ahead of Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Paris St-Germain’s Lionel Messi.

Ronaldo was lauded for being the men’s international all-time top scorer.

Lewandowski broke the late Gerd Muller’s 49-year record for scoring the most Bundesliga goals in a calendar year with 43 in 34 league appearances.

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel won the award for the Best Fifa men’s coach for guiding Chelsea to their second Champions League title after only joining the club in January.

Former Tottenham winger Erik Lamela – sold to Sevilla in the summer – won the Fifa Puskas award, which recognises the best goal in world football during the year, after his ‘rabona’ finish in the north London derby against Arsenal last March.

Chelsea’s Edouard Mendy won the award for the Best Fifa men’s goalkeeper after a successful first season with the club, including a clean sheet in the 1-0 win over Manchester City in the Champions League final.

The Denmark national team and their staff won the Best Fifa fair play award for their swift response after Christian Eriksen collapsed on the field during the Euro 2020 game with Finland.

On a successful night for Chelsea, Emma Hayes also won the award for the Best Fifa women’s coach as her side won a treble of domestic trophies.

As for the collective awards, Manchester City’s Ruben Dias and Kevin de Bruyne joined Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante and Jorginho, and Manchester United’s Ronaldo, in the Best Fifa men’s team of the year.

While two-time men’s winner Ronaldo was given the special award for surpassing Ali Daei’s 109-goal record for Iran – and included in the best XI – the Portugal captain was omitted from the shortlist for the individual prize for the first time since its inception.

Men’s world XI: 

• Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan/PSG/Italy)
• David Alaba (Bayern Munich/Real Madrid/Austria)
• Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
• Ruben Dias (Man City/Portugal)
• Kevin de Bruyne (Man City/Belgium)
• Jorginho (Chelsea/Italy)
• N’Golo Kante (Chelsea/France)
• Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus/Man Utd/Portugal)
• Erling Braut Haaland (Borussia Dortmund/Norway)
• Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich/Poland)
• Lionel Messi (Barcelona/PSG/Argentina).