Robert Lewandowski's four-goal display against Real Madrid in April 2013 firmly cemented his status on the world stage, with the Borussia Dortmund striker a key part of Jurgen Klopp's footballing revolution.

After signing for BVB in 2010 he never looked back, scoring at better than a goal every other game and hitting over 30 in the 2012-13 season. A Poland international, Lewandowski is also a force for his country netting roughly one every three games.

Prior to his time in Germany, Warsaw-born Lewandowski made his first notable contribution to club football when he finished as the top scorer in the Polish third division and helped Znicz Pruszkow win promotion. He continued that form by becoming the second division's top scorer the following season and earning himself a chance in the top-flight with Lech Poznan who he helped claim the 2009-10 league title by finishing as top scorer.

Lewandowski was actually due to sign for Blackburn in 2010 - but the volcanic ash cloud which covered Europe prevented him from signing for Sam Allardyce and that shaped the rest of his career as he instead headed for the Dortmund's Westfalenstadion.

Regularly linked with Europe's elite clubs, Lewandowski soon became a known target of Manchester United - though any price tag soured when he became the first player in European competition history to score a hat-trick - let alone four goals - in a match against Real Madrid. Those goals also made him the top Polish goalscorer in Champions League history.

Strengths: An unnerving ability to find space and shoot accurately in the tightest areas.

Weaknesses: Lacking in natural aerial ability he has worked hard in an attempt to improve his heading game.

Career high: Back-to-back Bundesliga titles with Borussia Dortmund in 2011 and 2012.

Career low: Poland's failure to qualify from the group stage of Euro 2012 as hosts. Style: Calm and composed in the box, he is just as happy to drop deep and link up play, a real team player.

Quotes: "Unlike Mario [Gotze] he has no release clause. We want Robert to play next year in Dortmund, for this we will waive a transfer fee. We have a good relationship and the transfer fee does not matter. I want him to stay, and in my life a lot of my wishes came true," said Dortmund general manager Aki Watzke said in April 2013 of the player whose contract would expire in the summer of 2014.

Trivia: In 2008, Lewandowski almost signed for Blackburn while Tony Mowbray tried to sign the striker when he was manager of both West Brom and Celtic.