Robert Lewandowski has enjoyed a dreamy start to his third season with Barcelona, and his hot start persisted over the first international break of the season. The all-time leading goalscorer for the Polish national team, Lewandowski, added to his account with another goal during a 2-0 victory over Scotland in the Nations League. The goal moved Lewandowski into 6th place among all-time international goal scorers, surpassing the great Ferenc Puskas.
The 35-year-old striker has once again shown his enduring quality, only sharpening his nose for the back of the net. Having worked with Lewandowski during their time at Bayern Munich, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has brought the best out of his forward, who currently tops the La Liga leaderboard with four goals to his name.
However, Lewandowski's success can’t be solely attributed to his manager. His positioning and lethal finishing chops continue to set him apart as one of Europe’s premier strikers, as evidenced by his five goals across his last six appearances for club and country.
YAMAL
At just 17 years old, Lamine Yamal's remarkable rise continues. After becoming Spain’s youngest-ever debutant and goal scorer earlier in the summer, the teenage prodigy has solidified his position as Spain’s most important attacker over the international break.
Lamine’s vision and command of the ball were on full display in Spain’s 0-0 draw vs. Serbia, and as he produced more than a few golden opportunities, his technical prowess made the difference for Spain in their 4-1 route of Switzerland.
Yamal's maturity belies his age, and his performances for La Roja have only fuelled the building anticipation surrounding his future at Barcelona. Tallying a goal and four assists through his first four matches in La Liga, Lamine’s trajectory knows no ceiling. and his level of consistency at such a ripe age is simply ludicrous.
Jules Kounde
Meanwhile, French defender Jules Kounde has also been thoroughly impressed during the break. A key figure in France’s backline, Kounde delivered cool and assured performances, contributing to Les Bleus’ unbeaten run in the Nations League.
Kounde enjoyed a stellar last season under previous manager Xavi Hernandez, who instilled confidence in the Frenchman to toggle between the centre-half and right-back positions. However, Kounde has announced himself as one of the premier defenders in football this season, flashing fine attacking instincts in build-up play out of defensive areas.
Kounde’s progression will bode well for Barcelona and their defensive depth as they prepare for the gruelling chunk of the season. His defensive reliability will prove indispensable as Barcelona aims to right their wrongs from last season.
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