When Ferran Torres scored one of the most important goals in recent Spanish football history, the stadium stands became a cauldron of emotion. Among the spectators who could not contain their joy was Robert Lewandowski, the former Barcelona striker who, despite no longer being an active player, followed every minute of the World Cup final like any other fan. His unbridled celebration alongside legends such as Iker Casillas, David Villa, Xavi and Xabi Llorente did not go unnoticed and showed how much Spain's victory meant to him.

A Pole in love with Spain and Barcelona

Lewandowski has not hesitated to publicly explain his reasons for supporting Spain in the final, according to as.com. In statements to ESPN Brasil, the Polish striker was clear: his years at Barcelona tied him to Spain in a sentimental way. "I was with Spain, since I have been years at Barcelona and have many friends there", he explained, acknowledging that his personal and historical ties with the Catalan club weighed on his decision to favour the Spanish side.

Regarding Argentina, although he admitted affection for Lionel Messi, he believed the Argentine star had already fulfilled his World Cup dream in the previous edition of the tournament. For that reason, in his reasoning, it was only fair that Spain's turn came, especially for a young generation with much football ahead of them.

An honest analysis of play and performance

Although he celebrated with passion, Lewandowski did not lose his critical perspective on what happened on the pitch. The final did not seem spectacular to him, mainly due to the pitch conditions. "The grass was slow and it was not the best way to play", he described, although he was emphatic in highlighting Spanish superiority: "Spain was superior and could have won the match earlier or by more goals. It dominated the match all the time and always had possession".

This technical assessment by the former Bayern Munich player reflects the unanimity among world analysts regarding the level displayed by the Spanish national team, which conquered its second World Cup star emphatically.

The highlights and shadows of Lamine Yamal's World Cup

Lewandowski also took time to analyse the performance of Lamine Yamal, the young star of the national team who was far from his best level during much of the tournament. The Polish player was understanding about the circumstances surrounding the winger:

• Yamal arrived at the World Cup with a recent injury that sidelined him for eight weeks
• He had no time to train at competitive pace due to the schedule of matches every three days
• Even so, he managed to adapt thanks to Spain's collective work

"The good thing about Spain is that they are a team and they helped Lamine to win, and he helped the team", Lewandowski reflected, highlighting that the strength of the national team did not lie in individual figures, but in group cohesion.

The legacy of a rival who becomes observer

Lewandowski's presence celebrating in the stands is part of a broader trend: several former world-class footballers have spoken wonders about Spanish football after its coronation. Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ronaldo Nazário and Paul Scholes are other names who have publicly come out to praise the behaviour and play of the national team.

That a legend like Lewandowski, a rival of Spain on many occasions and a figure of European football, publicly acknowledges the supremacy of Spain in the final speaks for itself about the quality of what the national team managed to demonstrate at the World Cup. Spain not only won, but won over the entire football world.