FC Barcelona has a new addition between the posts: Wojciech Szczęsny, a seasoned goalkeeper with 84 caps for Poland. Though well-known for his stints in the Premier League and Serie A, this will be his first experience playing in La Liga. Here are ten things you need to know about Barça’s new shot-stopper, who will be at the club until June 30, 2025:
1. From Dancer to Footballer
While Szczęsny began playing football at the age of eight, his first love was ballroom dancing. He also tried javelin throwing. “I was seven to nine years old,” he recalls. “I was tall and stiff, but I had all the moves.”
2. Goalkeeping Runs in the Family
Wojciech inherited his goalkeeping talent from his father, Maciej Szczęsny, who played for Legia Warsaw and Wisla Krakow. His brother, Jan, also played as a goalkeeper in Poland’s lower leagues.
3. Early Barça Encounters
Szczęsny has faced Barcelona before, notably in the Champions League. His first Champions League game was with Arsenal against Barça in 2011, where he helped secure a 2-1 victory. Though his team lost in the return leg, Szczęsny made a strong impression.
4. A Familiar Face
Szczęsny has never played at the same club as any of his current Barça teammates, except for one familiar face—Robert Lewandowski. The two have played together in 71 matches for the Polish national team since 2009, forming a strong connection on opposite ends of the pitch.
5. Saving Messi’s Penalty
One of Szczęsny’s career highlights came at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, where he saved a penalty from none other than Lionel Messi. Argentina eventually won the game and the tournament, but Szczęsny’s stop made the headlines. Only one other goalkeeper, Halldórsson from Iceland, has saved a Messi penalty at the World Cup.
6. A Juventus Connection
Like former Barça goalkeeper Neto, Szczęsny came to Barcelona after a stint at Juventus. Interestingly, Neto left Juve just two weeks before Szczęsny arrived to replace him. Adding to the coincidences, Neto was recently loaned from Bournemouth to Arsenal, one of Szczęsny’s former clubs.
7. Benching Legends
Szczęsny has beaten some of the world’s best goalkeepers to the top spot at various clubs. At Roma, he was chosen ahead of Alisson (now at Liverpool). At Juventus, he became the number one, pushing the legendary Gianluigi Buffon to the bench. In jest, Szczęsny once remarked, “The conclusion is that I am probably the world’s greatest goalkeeper of all time!”
8. Success in the Premier League and Serie A
Szczęsny has been named the best goalkeeper in two of the world’s top leagues: the Premier League and Serie A. He shared the 2013/14 title in England with Petr Cech and won the 2019/20 award outright in Italy.
9. A Family Man
Family is essential to Szczęsny. Since 2013, his partner has been Ukrainian-born singer Marina Łuczenko, who grew up in Poland and is well-known there. The couple has two children: Liam, born in 2018, and Noelia, born just last July.
10. Retired, Then Reignited
Szczęsny announced his retirement from football on August 27, citing a lack of passion for the game. However, after receiving a call from Barça, he reconsidered and is now ready to take on a new challenge with renewed motivation.
Wojciech Szczęsny brings not only experience but also charisma and determination to Barcelona. With his skill set and family-first attitude, he’s sure to become a fan favorite at Camp Nou.
