{"id":585553,"date":"2026-08-15T14:16:28","date_gmt":"2026-08-15T14:16:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/585553\/"},"modified":"2026-08-15T14:16:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-15T14:16:28","slug":"robert-lewandowski-handed-awkward-run-in-with-snubbed-former-teammate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/585553\/","title":{"rendered":"Robert Lewandowski Handed Awkward Run-In With Snubbed Former Teammate"},"content":{"rendered":"

When former FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski arrived in MLS with the Chicago Fire, it looked as though he would form one of the league\u2019s most intense attacking partnerships with Golden Boot leader Hugo Cuypers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Yet, less than two months after making his debut, the two are instead set to meet in an awkward single-game Leagues Cup quarterfinal clash between Aug. 25\u201327. It\u2019s a far cry from the publicly harmonious welcome Cuypers gave when announcing he\u2019d swap to the No. 99 shirt to allow Lewandowski the No. 9.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lewandowski and Cuypers never got to share the pitch in the Windy City. The two were set to dovetail together on July 16 against Lewandowski\u2019s former teammate, Thomas M\u00fcller, and the Vancouver Whitecaps<\/a>, but the match was postponed to October due to smoke<\/a>. By the time the next match came, Cuypers had completed an up to $8 million transfer to Liga MX side CF Monterrey, opening up the top striker spot for Lewandowski to claim.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In many ways, Lewandowski stole Cuypers\u2019s job\u2014despite the Belgian star proving himself as the top goalscorer in MLS<\/a>. In two different leagues, the likelihood of the two ever meeting was minimal until now.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Leagues Cup Brings Pair Together\"Robert<\/p>\n

Robert Lewandowski helped the Chicago Fire to top spot in the MLS Leagues Cup table. | Justin Casterline\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Though Phase One of the Leagues Cup, the tournament featuring 18 teams from MLS and all 18 from Mexico\u2019s top flight, Monterrey finished fourth in the Liga MX section with two wins and a loss\u2014including three goals from Cuypers. Chicago, meanwhile, had Lewandowski score once in their three wins, clinching first in the MLS table and setting up a quarterfinal clash between the two.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course,\u201d manager Gregg Berhalter said after Chicago\u2019s final match, a 2\u20131 win over Liga MX giants Cruz Azul. \u201cOf course it turned out like that. We helped them out a little bit, so they\u2019ll come here in a good mood. But it\u2019s a good team. Monterrey\u2019s a good team. It\u2019s going to be a good competition.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Leagues Cup tournament doesn\u2019t offer the same prestige as many of the other competitions both Monterrey and Chicago compete in. Still, it brings Concacaf Champions Cup berths for the two finalists and the third-place finisher, as well as cash rewards.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Robert. Lewandowski. \ud83d\ude24@ChicagoFire<\/a> surge to 3-1 over Santos in stoppage time!<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcfa Apple TV: https:\/\/t.co\/LZEuJ9PmIJ<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/eyAoV5Q0iM<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Now, it also gives Chicago a chance to prove they made the right decision by pushing Cuypers aside for the Polish legend.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t write a better story than that,\u201d Fire<\/a> and USMNT goalkeeper Chris Brady told MenInRed97.<\/a> \u201cWe know Hugo. We\u2019re familiar with him, and a lot of the scouting will revolve around him because I know he\u2019s hot right now. It\u2019ll be a good game. I think the key for us is going out and approaching it the same way we approached this game: must-win at home. We\u2019ve got to bring the energy from minute one.\u201d<\/p>\n

The winner of the quarterfinal clash will advance to take on Club Am\u00e9rica or the Columbus Crew and be assured of playing either for the title or in the third-place match, with dates to be determined.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Why Cuypers Left Chicago\"Hugo<\/p>\n

Hugo Cuypers scored 13 goals for the Chicago Fire this season. | Michael Miller\/ISI Photos\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

While there were initial hopes for Cuypers and Lewandowski to battle for a starting spot, or to share the pitch in a two-striker system, the club and Cuypers worked together to send him to a new team.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The player, in his prime at 29, wanted to maximize his form and earnings and found that opportunity with Rayados, as the club looked to replace the attacking void left by Germ\u00e1n Berterame\u2019s departure to Inter Miami.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone knew the situation in Chicago with Robert arriving,\u201d Cuypers said on a Leagues Cup Apple TV broadcast. \u201cThere was a scenario where everything was working out well, and we could have played together.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut there was also a scenario where he would have been the main guy in the short or medium term. I didn\u2019t want to take that risk. I wasn\u2019t going to move just to move, and when Monterrey came, it was the right fit.\u201d<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no doubt, though, that the clash might be a bit awkward. Will Chicago honor their former star\u2014and if so, how will he take it ? It was always possible that Chicago could take on Monterrey, but few expected it to come so soon, with the Fire in position to end a 20-year trophy drought. \u00a0 <\/p>\n

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