BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Prolific scorer Robert Lewandowski will leave Barcelona at the end of the season, the Spanish club said Saturday.
The Poland striker, who turns 38 in August, was widely expected to be on the move with his contract set to expire.
Lewandowski joined Barcelona from Bayern on a 45 million euro ($52 million) transfer in 2022, when his new club was in serious financial trouble and still reeling from the exit of Lionel Messi. Lewandowski was seen as a key piece of its rebuilding effort.
He went on to help Barcelona win three Spanish league titles in four seasons, including this campaign, and one Copa del Rey, while scoring an impressive 119 goals in 191 appearances.
“After four years full of challenges and hard work, it’s time to move on. I leave with the feeling that the mission is complete," Lewandowski wrote on Instagram.
Lewandowski did not say in his message what's next for his career. He has been linked with a move to Juventus or to leagues outside Europe.
Lewandowski lost the status of being the undisputed first-choice striker for Barcelona coach Hansi Flick this season, as the former Bayern coach often preferred the speed and hustle of the younger Ferran Torres.
Lamine Yamal, who has played on Lewandowski's right, praised his attack partner.
“Thank you for everything, for your goals, your leadership, and for believing in me since day one,” Yamal wrote on Instagram. "I learned so much from you, on and off the pitch. You will always be a legend.”
Barcelona has two games left this season. It hosts Real Betis on Sunday and visits Valencia on May 23.
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Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Osasuna and Barcelona in Pamplona, Spain, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Alec Burleson drove in two runs and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Kansas City Royals 4-2 on Saturday in the second game of the annual I-70 series, much to the delight of some boisterous and shirtless fans in the right-field seats.
The game was delayed by rain at the start by 46 minutes.
Kyle Leahy (5-3) pitched six innings in his first career start against the Royals. He allowed one run on five hits. George Soriano got his second save despite giving up a leadoff homer to Jac Caglianone in the ninth.
Noah Cameron (2-3) worked six innings, giving up three runs on five hits.
The Stephen F. Austin club baseball team attended Friday’s game and caused a sensation by the players took off their shirts and waved them like a helicopter. The team returned in the fourth inning Saturday after winning a game earlier in the National Club Baseball Division II World Series in nearby Alton, Illinois.
St. Louis has won four of its five games. Since Interleague play began in 1997, the Cardinals are 81-55 against Kansas City.
The Royals have lost six in a row. Kansas City has lost 17 of its first 23 road games, the second-worst mark in the majors.
Burleson's two-out RBI single in the eighth extended the lead to 4-1.
Thomas Saggese ended his 0-for-30 slump that was the longest active hitless streak in MLB with a leadoff single in the fifth inning. He scored on a fielder's choice by sliding safely at home. A sacrifice fly by Masyn Winn then gave St. Louis a 3-1 lead.
The Royals tied it at 1-1 in the fifth. Maikel Garcia hit a one-out double and scored on Vinnie Pasquantino’s two-out single to center.
St. Louis went up 1-0 in the first on a sacrifice fly by Burleson.
The rivalry weekend series wraps up Sunday with Royals RHP Stephen Kolak (1-0, 6.75 ERA) set to start against RHP Andre Pallante (4-3, 4.46).
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St. Louis Cardinals' Masyn Winn celebrates after hitting a sacrifice fly to score Nathan Church during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Saturday, May 16, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Cardinals' Masyn Winn watches his sacrifice fly to score Nathan Church during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Saturday, May 16, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Fans cheer and wave their shirts above their heads during the fifth inning of a baseball game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals Saturday, May 16, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Cardinals' Masyn Winn scores during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Saturday, May 16, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Cardinals' Masyn Winn (0) and Victor Scott II (11) celebrate a victory over the Kansas City Royals in a baseball game Saturday, May 16, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
