Lukas Podolski has etched his name into football history by becoming the only player ever to win national cup competitions in five different countries. The 40-year-old former Germany international achieved this milestone after helping Górnik Zabrze defeat Raków Częstochowa 2-0 in the Polish Cup final on Saturday, securing the club’s seventh Polish Cup title and Podolski’s first trophy with the Zabrze-based side since joining five years ago from Turkish club Antalyaspor.
For the 130-time Germany international and 2014 World Cup winner, Poland marks the fifth nation where he has lifted a domestic cup. According to Transfermarkt data, Podolski now stands alone globally, having previously belonged to a group of 29 players who had accomplished the feat in four different countries.
His first national cup triumph came in 2008 with Bayern Munich, where he provided an assist for Luca Toni’s extra-time winner against Borussia Dortmund in the DFB-Pokal final. Six years later, the 1. FC Köln youth product added the FA Cup with Arsenal. He then secured the Turkish Cup with Galatasaray in 2016 and the Emperor’s Cup with Vissel Kobe in 2019. Podolski came close to adding the Coppa Italia during a loan spell at Inter Milan in 2014/15, but the Nerazzurri were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Napoli.
The select group of players who have won domestic cups in four different countries includes former stars such as Rivaldo (Spain, Italy, Greece, Uzbekistan), Ricardo Quaresma (Portugal, England, Italy, Turkey), and Freddie Ljungberg (Sweden, England, USA, Scotland). Podolski’s unique achievement now places him above all of them.
**Key Statistics:**
– Lukas Podolski overall career: 716 matches, 238 goals, 137 assists
– Domestic cup matches: 133 matches, 25 goals, 22 assists
