Poland's national football team, players, coach, FIFA world rankings, World Cup 2022
FootballWho ranks among the all-time best polish soccer players? The crème de la crème in polish soccer
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.
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)
- 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.
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Football9. Ernest Pohl (1955 -1960, 69 Caps – 44 goals)
- 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)
- 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
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FootballLubanski 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 )
- 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.
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Football6. Robert Gadocha (1967–1975, 68 Caps – 16 goals)
- 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 )
- 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
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FootballFrom 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)
- 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.
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Football3. Kazimierz Deyna ( 1968–1978, 97 Caps – 41 goals )
- 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 )
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Football- 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 )
- 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
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FootballWithout 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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