Wojciech Szczesny, now standing between the posts for Barcelona after coming out of retirement, recently spoke with rare honesty about a battle he wishes he had never started — smoking. At 35 years old, and despite earning a fresh wave of admiration from Barça fans, Szczesny isn’t shy about admitting one of his biggest regrets. In fact, he’s using his platform to send a powerful warning to the next generation.
While Szczesny’s goalkeeping skills have dazzled fans across Europe — from Arsenal to Juventus and now Barcelona — his smoking habit has been a persistent and damaging side story. Nicknamed “Szczesny fumador” by fans in Spain, the Polish veteran acknowledges the unfortunate accuracy of the label.
Speaking candidly, Szczesny revealed that his struggle with cigarettes began early in his career and that it has been a losing battle ever since. He admits that while he tries to set the right example for young players and teammates, smoking is the one area where he has clearly failed.
Rather than sugar-coat his experience, Szczesny lays it out bluntly: if you’re watching him, do not follow that path. He stresses how easy it was to fall into the habit when he was younger, and how hard — practically impossible — it’s been to break free from it even as a professional athlete at the highest level.
This isn’t just an empty confession. Szczesny’s career bears the marks of his choices. Years ago, while at Arsenal, an emotional moment after a tough loss saw him light up a cigarette in the dressing room showers — an incident that led to a fine and cost him his starting spot. It wasn’t a dramatic fallout; rather, it was a slow burn, where losing his place to a teammate became a turning point he couldn’t easily undo.
Looking back, Szczesny doesn’t dodge responsibility. Instead, he uses his experience to highlight how one small, bad decision can spiral into lasting consequences.
In an era where young athletes are under immense pressure to perform and stay on a straight path, Szczesny’s raw honesty is both refreshing and necessary. Smoking may not be talked about as much today as it once was, but the dangers remain — especially for those in demanding sports careers.
