Poland captain Lewandowski to wear Ukrainian colours at World Cup

Poland captain Robert Lewandowski says it will be “an honour” to carry an armband in the colours of Ukraine to this year’s FIFA World Cup after he was presented with it by Ukrainian football legend Andriy Shevchenko yesterday in Warsaw.

Shevchenko said the armband was a symbol of thanks to Lewandowski and all Poles for their support for Ukraine, whose national team narrowly failed to quality for the tournament, which kicks off in Qatar in November.

“I want to thank Robert for everything he’s been doing for my country,” added Shevchenko, the Ukraine national team’s all-time leading goal scorer and former coach. “This armband represents our pride, our power. He [Lewandowski] can play his World Cup games in Qatar with a Ukrainian armband and thinking about Ukraine.”

“So many gestures, so much real support, taking in our compatriots, these are all invaluable,” he noted, quoted by Przegląd Sportowy. “It is hard in Ukraine now, but we see that our brothers from Poland are helping us. All Ukrainians will support you in Qatar.”

Poland has been the primary destination for refugees from Ukraine, with millions crossing its border since Russia’s invasion and more than one million estimated to still be living there. Poland has also been one of the largest suppliers of military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

“This armband is thanks for the whole of Poland’s support for our neighbours in the war,” said Lewandowski, voted FIFA best men’s player in the world two years running. “They are fighting for freedom, and we, knowing our own history, know how important that is. I am very proud of the token of gratitude I have received from Andriy.”

Lewandowski, who moved to Barcelona this summer, added that he first wore the Ukrainian flag on his arm the day after the Russian invasion in a match for his former club Bayern Munich.

“I knew I would be captain and came up with the idea of making an armband myself. I stuck it and sewed it together myself so it would stay on my arm. It was a spontaneous gesture, but I knew it was very much needed. I wanted to show the world what had happened,” he said, quoted by Przegląd Sportowy.

“I realised that sport is global and wanted the message to go as far as possible. I dreamed of many people turning to look at the situation in Ukraine. War had broken out there! And we Poles know how terrible that is.”

Another Polish sporting superstar, women’s tennis number one Iga Świątek, has also regularly worn Ukrainian colours and spoken of the plight of the Ukrainian people at tournaments and in the media since the Russian invasion.

Main image credit: Twitter/Laureus Sport

Ben Koschalka

Ben Koschalka is a translator and senior editor at Notes from Poland. Originally from Britain, he has lived in Kraków since 2005.