Robert Lewandowski is on the cusp of a historic milestone, closing in on 100 goals in the UEFA Champions League. Now leading the line for Barcelona, a team that could cause an upset to live football odds after their fast start with new manager Hansi Flick, he will be on the hunt for more goals in Europe.

With 96 goals to his name, the Polish striker currently sits third in the all-time goal-scoring list, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Lewandowski remains one of Europe’s most lethal forwards —even at 35 years old — as Barca look to reclaim La Liga and make an impact in the Champions League, a competition the Catalans haven’t won since 2015, when they beat Juventus 3-1 in Berlin.

As Lewandowski approaches his century of goals, it’s the perfect moment to reflect on some of the most memorable strikes of his stellar European career. Let’s assess some of his best strikes.

Masterclass vs Madrid – 2013

One of Lewandowski’s most iconic performances came in the 2013 Champions League semi-final when Borussia Dortmund faced Real Madrid. In the first leg, Lewandowski stunned the football world with an incredible four-goal display, as Dortmund won 4-1.

His third for the hat-trick was the pick of the bench, a sensational turn and finish from close range, as Dortmund reached the final, only to fall short against Lewandowski’s future employers Bayern Munich at Wembley.

Volley vs. Dinamo Zagreb – 2015

At the end of his Dortmund contract, Lewandowski switched allergenics across Germany, becoming a legend with Bayern Munich during an eight-year stay.

His time at Die Roten saw him score countless stunning goals, but his acrobatic volley against Dinamo Zagreb in the 2015 group stage stood out.

Latching onto a long pass from the midfield, the Polish striker showcased his impeccable timing and athleticism by adjusting his body and unleashing a powerful volley that flew in as part of a 5-0 win.

Under Pep Guardiola, Bayern would regularly reach the latter stages of the competition, but the Spaniard failed to land that elusive European crown in Bavaria, even with a striker as good as ‘Lewa’ leading the line.

Impeccable timing vs. Chelsea – 2020

Lewandowski was instrumental in Bayern Munich’s 2020 Champions League triumph, and his ruthless finish against Chelsea in the Round of 16 showcased his ability in the box.

After a pinpoint cross from Alphonso Davies, Lewandowski made a perfectly timed run into the box, bypassing the Chelsea defence to power a finish into the bottom corner. It was a crucial goal in a 3-0 away victory at Stamford Bridge, with the Pole awarded man of the match under now-manager Flick, who praised his side’s efforts.

“Of course it was a really good result for us,” he said. “The team performed exactly as we had planned. We were very concentrated, very focused to the way we played, and that’s the reason why we could win 3-0.”

The win set the tone for Bayern’s relentless march to the final, where they eventually lifted the trophy after beating Paris Saint-Germain 1-0.

Barcelona opener vs Viktoria Plzeň – 2022

In his debut Champions League season with Barcelona, Lewandowski wasted no time making an impact. In a group stage clash against Viktoria Plzeň, he scored his first European goal for the Catalans with a trademark finish.

After receiving a pass at the edge of the box, he whipped a well-timed, sharp effort into the bottom corner, leaving the goalkeeper Jindřich Staněk with no chance.

He would go on to score another hat-trick in a 5-1 win – a header at the back post and then another strike low and hard, although Barca failed to make it beyond the group stage.