Barcelona superstar has better numbers than Messi, Neymar ahead of milestone appearance

It was in the summer of 2022 when Barcelona signed Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich in a deal worth around €50 million.

A little over two years down the line, Lewandowski, now 36, is all set to achieve a special milestone as he will be making his 100th appearance for Barcelona tomorrow when they take on Girona in La Liga.

Better goal tally than Messi and Neymar after 99 games

In 99 appearances for Barcelona, Lewandowski has already tallied 63 goals, giving him an average of 0.63 goals per game.

As SPORT highlights, this scoring rate ranks Lewandowski among the most effective forwards in Barcelona’s recent history.

Indeed, the veteran striker’s numbers in his first 99 matches surpass those of several iconic ex-Barça players, including Lionel Messi (41 goals), Neymar (57), Rivaldo (57), and Ronaldinho (44), who were all considered prolific scorers during their respective eras at the club.

Lewandowski has more goals for Barcelona than Messi had after 99 games. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

However, Lewandowski still trails behind Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan striker, who now plays at Inter Miami alongside Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, managed 88 goals in his first 100 official matches for Barcelona.

While Lewandowski has outscored Messi by 22 goals in their first 100 matches, the comparison between the two requires context.

Messi, in his early years at Barça, often played limited minutes and did not start two consecutive full matches until his 36th and 37th appearances.

Additionally, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner did not fully transition into a centre-forward or ‘false nine’ role until 2009 under Pep Guardiola.

Either way, Lewandowski is set to achieve a special milestone tomorrow against Girona. The 36-year-old has started the new season strongly, netting four goals from four games and will be eager to celebrate his landmark appearance with a match-winning contribution.