Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski feels better now than he did five years ago

In an interview with Lothar Matthäus for Sport Bild, Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski assessed how he feels physically at this stage of his career, especially with the heavy expectations that are on him to produce at an alarmingly high rate.

“The bar is very high. I know a lot of people look at my age, but to be honest: I feel better than when I was 26 or 27,” said Lewandowski as captured by Tz). “Can I play for another four to five years or a good three years at this level? That is hard to say. But I definitely trust myself to keep my level for several years — at least!”

Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

Lewandowski credits his commitment to taking care of his body for why he has been able to maintain his high level of play. In particular, Lewandowski credits building his body through weight training for his ability to consistent be in peak shape.

“I was always the smallest and thinnest player on our team, even if it’s hard to imagine today, Lothar,” Lewandowski said “I did the first units on the dumbbells when I was 19 or 20 years old, shortly before I came to Dortmund. That was the first time that I set foot in the gym!”

It was at Borussia Dortmund that Lewandowski made the decision to change his lifestyle and commit to building muscle, increasing his strength, and just overall becoming more fit. In the end, though, the results of that increased focus on fitness speak for themselves.

“If you compare my body today with that of four years ago, you see a clear difference. The doctor said my body was that of a 26-year-old,” said Lewandowski.