Who ranks among the all-time best polish soccer players? The crème de la crème in polish soccer

Who ranks among the all-time best polish soccer players? The crème de la crème in polish soccer

Kevin Omuya
updated at January 30, 2024 at 9:21 AM

Poland is a country that has built a reputation for producing some of the world's finest players. The Polish national football team has shown remarkable success in international competitions over the last decade, and the best Polish soccer players have moved on to play for other clubs throughout Europe.

Best Polish Soccer Players
FC Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski in 2024(L), Lukasz Piszczek of Borussia Dortmund in 2021(M), Jakub Blaszczykowski of Wisla (R). Photo: Ion Alcoba Beitia, Alex Gottschalk, Mikolaj Barbanell
Source: Getty Images

Despite being a reliable source of top-tier players for decades, Poland is often overlooked in international football. Poland boasts a footballing solid pedigree, with The Orly finishing third in the 1974 and 1982 World Cups and as high as fifth in the FIFA World Rankings. Below are the best Polish soccer players ever.

Best Polish soccer players of all time

Players' names

Time of play

Caps won

Jerzy Dudek

1998 - 2013

60

Ernest Pohl

1955 - 1960

69

Wlodzimierz Lubanski

1963 - 1980

75

Lukasz Piszczek

2007 - 2019

66

Robert Gadocha

1967 - 1975

68

Jakub Blaszczykowski

2006 - 2019

108

Grzegorz Lato

1971 - 1984

100

Kazimierz Deyna

1968 - 1978

97

Zbigniew Boniek

1976 - 1988

80

Robert Lewandowski

2008 -to present

132

"Who ranks among the all-time best Polish soccer players?" is an inevitable question that must be asked as we explore the history of Polish soccer. Thanks to their skills and achievements, these players are considered the best in Polish soccer history, cementing their place in football lore.

10. Jerzy Dudek (1998- 2013, 60 Caps)

Polish Best Football Players
Jerzy Dudek of Liverpool during the Legends of the North match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford on May 21, 2022, in Manchester, England. Photo: Gareth Copley
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Jerzy Henryk Dudek
  • Date of birth: March 23, 1973
  • Place of birth: Rybnik, Poland
  • Clubs: Liverpool F.C.,Feyenoord, Real Madrid CF
  • Honours: Eredivisie, La Liga, Champions League, Copa Del Rey, League Cup
  • Position: Goalkeeper

He won 60 caps for his country, was one of only a handful of European goalkeepers to win the UEFA Champions League, and played for Liverpool. After starting a single season in his native country, he moved on to Feyenoord and succeeded in the Eredivisie.

In 2000, he became the first foreigner to win the Dutch Golden Shoe Award, among many other accolades. Not content to stop in the Dutch top flight, his stellar club career continued to the Premier League. Additionally, he cemented his place in league lore as one of the most accomplished goalkeepers to ever play at Anfield.

9. Ernest Pohl (1955 -1960, 69 Caps – 44 goals)

Most Famous Polish Soccer Player
Poland's footballer Ernest Pohl. Photo: @fussballgeekz (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Full name: Ernest Pohl
  • Date of birth: November 3, 1932
  • Place of birth: Ruda Śląska
  • Clubs: Slavia Ruda Śląska, Orzeł Łódź, Legia Warsaw, Górnik Zabrze
  • Honours: Polish Cup, Ekstraklasa

Even though he never played in a league outside of Poland, Pohl was still considered a great legend of Polish football. Between 1957 and 1967, he won eight Ekstraklasa titles while playing for Legia Warsaw and Gornik Zabrze. With 186 goals for his country, he is still widely considered one of the best of all time, and this is especially true among Gornik Zabrze supporters, for whom the stadium is named.

8. Wlodzimierz Lubanski ( 1963–1980, 75 Caps – 48 goals)

Best Polish Soccer Players
Wlodzimierz Lubanski of Poland. Photo: Peter Robinson
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Włodzimierz 'Włodek' Leonard Lubański
  • Date of birth: February 28, 1947 (76 years old as of 2024)
  • Place of birth: Gliwice, Poland
  • Clubs: Górnik Zabrze, KSC Lokeren, Valenciennes FC, Stade Quimpérois, KRC Mechelen
  • Honours: Polish Championship

Lubanski is another well-known Polish footballer considered a saint in Polish football lore for all his hard work, loyalty, and years for Orly. He scored forty goals for his country while playing as an attacker.

He is the country's second-best scorer in Polish football lore, behind only Robert Lewandowski, the best striker in Poland's history. Lubanski was also a part of Poland's all-time great squad that finished third in the FIFA World Cup and won gold at the Summer Olympics.

7. Lukasz Piszczek ( 2007–2019. 66 Caps – 3 goals )

Most Famous Polish Soccer Player
Lukasz Piszczek of Borussia Dortmund looks on during their match against Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Signal Iduna Park on May 22, 2021, in Dortmund, Germany. Photo: Alex Gottschalk
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Łukasz Piotr Piszczek
  • Date of birth: 3 June 1985 (age 38)
  • Place of birth: Czechowice-Dziedzice, Poland
  • Clubs: Hertha BSC, Zagłębie Lubin, Borussia Dortmund, Goczałkowice-Zdrój
  • Honours: UEFA Champions League, Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal

Because of his offensive skills, Piszczek was said to have been one of the most effective right-backs in world football at the time. He retired after earning more than sixty-six caps for Poland, during which time he competed in the World Cup, three UEFA European Championships, and other tournaments.

6. Robert Gadocha (1967–1975, 68 Caps – 16 goals)

Famous Polish Soccer Players
Polish footballer Robert Gadocha during a FIFA World Cup Group 5 match against England at Wembley Stadium in London, UK on October 15, 1973. Photo: Evening Standard
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Robert Gadocha
  • Date of birth: January 10, 1946 (78 years old as of 2024)
  • Place of birth: Kraków, Poland
  • Clubs: Wawel Kraków, Legia Warsaw, Chicago Sting, Hellions
  • Honours: World Cup Finals

While playing for the Polish national team and, more specifically, for one of Poland's most illustrious clubs, Legia Warsaw, Gadocha captivated audiences as a captivating forward and midfielder. While in Germany in 1974 for the FIFA World Cup, he was a key figure in Poland's third-place finish and their 1972 Summer Olympics gold medal victory. In 68 appearances for Poland, he scored 16 goals.

5. Jakub Blaszczykowski ( 2006–2019, 108 Caps – 21 goals )

Best Current Polish Soccer Players
Jakub Blaszczykowski of Poland looks on during the international friendly match against Germany at Stadion Narodowy on June 16, 2023, in Warsaw, Poland. Photo: Mateusz Slodkowski
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Jakub "Kuba" Błaszczykowski
  • Date of birth: December 14, 1985 (38 years old as of 2024)
  • Place of birth: Truskolasy, Poland
  • Clubs: KS Częstochowa, Wisła Kraków, Borussia Dortmund, Fiorentina (loan), VfL Wolfsburg, Wisła Kraków
  • Honours: Ekstraklasa, Bundesliga

From his 2006 debut until his retirement with 'The Orly,' Kuba was undeniably a national icon in his home country, beloved by his fans for his selfless service. His 2011 and 2012 Bundesliga titles came while playing for Borrusia Dortmund. Though he lacks the showmanship and deception of other great Polish players, Kuba stands out thanks to his exceptional technical, passing, and crossing abilities.

4. Grzegorz Lato ( 1971–1984, 100 Caps – 45 goals)

Best Young Polish Soccer Players
Grzegorz Lato of Poland. Photo: Peter Robinson
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Grzegorz Bolesław Lato
  • Date of birth: April 8, 1950 (73 years old as of 2024)
  • Place of birth: Malbork, Poland
  • Clubs: Stal Mielec, Lokeren, Atlante
  • Honours: Polish up, Polish Premier League

The most impressive part of Lato's football career was his performance at the 1974 World Cup when he stunned the crowd by leading the Orly to a third-place finish and ultimately winning the tournament's top scorer award. When discussing Lato's brilliant football folklore, it is impossible to omit his role in Poland's 1972 Olympic gold medal-winning performance in Munich, where he delivered a sensational performance that cemented his place in Polish football history.

3. Kazimierz Deyna ( 1968–1978, 97 Caps – 41 goals )

Best Polish Soccer Players Ever
Polish footballer Kazimierz Deyna during a FIFA World Cup match against England at Wembley Stadium on 17th October 1973. Photo: Evening Standard
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Kazimierz Deyna
  • Date of birth: October 23, 1947
  • Place of birth: Starogard Gdański, Poland
  • Clubs: ŁKS Łódź, Legia Warsaw,Manchester City, San Diego Sockers
  • Honours: Polish Cup, Polish Championship

Though he passed away in a car crash shortly after retiring in 1987, Deyna will always be remembered as one of the best Polish footballers ever. He was famous for his time at Manchester City until his death. He scored thirteen goals in 41 games for the Citizens, proving he was one of the best Polish footballers to play outside of Poland.

It says a lot about his greatness and quality as one of Orly's finest: he came third in the 1974 Ballon d'Or race, behind legends like Franz Beckenbauer and Johan Cruyff.

2. Zbigniew Boniek ( 1976–1988, 80 Caps – 24 goals )

Best Polish Soccer Players Of All Time
The President of the Polish Football Association, Zbigniew Boniek, during the International Friendly match against Mexico on November 13, 2017. Photo: Andrew Surma
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Zbigniew Boniek
  • Date of birth: March 3, 1956 (67 years old as of 2024)
  • Place of birth: Bydgoszcz, Poland
  • Clubs: Zawisza Bydgoszcz, Widzew Łódź, Juventus, Roma
  • Honours: Serie A, Coppa Italia

To Poland and his clubs, Boniek is one of the all-time great footballers. Famous for his distinctive dribbling abilities, broad build, and moustache, Boniek frequently went head-to-head with the best Italian defenders. The late Diego Armando Maradona praised the Polish legend, calling him a "unique footballer and one of a kind" who captivated Juventus supporters and amazed onlookers at the 1982 World Cup thanks to his exceptional skill.

1. Robert Lewandowski (2008– Present, 132 Caps – 76 goals )

Best Polish Soccer Players
Robert Lewandowski of FC Barcelona looks on during the Copa del Rey against Unionistas on January 18, 2024, in Salamanca, Spain. Photo: Angel Martinez
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Robert Lewandowski
  • Date of birth: August 21, 1988 (35 years old as of 2024)
  • Place of birth: Warsaw, Poland
  • Clubs: Delta Warsaw, Lech Poznan, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Barcelona
  • Honours: Champions league, Bundesliga, La liga, Ekstraklasa

Without a doubt, Lewandowski is the most mesmerizing, entertaining, and deadly goal-poacher in Polish football history. The Pole is considered one of the most famous Poles to ever play for Germany and one of the current best strikers European football has ever seen.

Final word

History's best Polish soccer players include goal-scorer Robert Lewandowski, midfield genius Zbigniew Boniek, and defensive rock Władysław Zbigniew Król. Celebrating the talent and legacy left behind by these luminaries becomes the answer as we reflect on the question, "Who ranks among the all-time best Polish soccer players?"

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Authors
Kevin Omuya photo
Kevin Omuya
Kevin Omuya is a Content Writer with 4 years of experience who joined Sports Brief in 2022. In 2019 he held a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Digital Media from KCA University.