ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI broke down in tears after his dreams of a final World Cup swansong were crushed.
The Poland captain, record appearance maker and top scorer, 37, featured at the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
He scored twice in Qatar as Poland reached the last 16 and were knocked out by France.
However, Lewandowski’s hopes of making it a hat-trick of World Cups fell at the hands of Sweden.
Poland beat Albania last week to set up a Uefa play-off final against the Swedes in Stockholm.
Jan Urban’s side twice fell behind but twice equalised and it was 2-2 from the 55th minute.
However, Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres fired home a rebound in the 88th minute to spark wild scenes for those in yellow – and leave Lewandowski and Co heartbroken.
The Barcelona man – holding his mask after fracturing his eye socket in February – looked utterly dejected as he applauded the travelling fans after full-time before walking away crestfallen.
He then appeared to wipe away tears before turning back to the fans and apologising again after falling just shy of spearheading them to North America.
Fans on social media shared their devastation to see a modern-day great miss out on what would surely have been his last World Cup.
BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK
One said: “So sad, he deserved his last World Cup.”
Another wrote: “One of those images that really hurts.”
A third added: “A heartbreaking moment.”
And a fourth wrote: “We will miss you.”
Lewandowski’s pain was contrasted with Sweden’s delight.
Graham Potter was sacked by West Ham six games into the season but will end it by leading the Blagult to the World Cup.
Sweden – who failed to qualify in 2010, 2014 and 2022 – will take on Holland, Japan and Tunisia in Group F.
Elsewhere, four-time winners Italy missed out on qualifying for the THIRD World Cup in a row after a penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Turkey beat Kosovo 1-0 and the Czech Republic edged out Denmark on penalties to complete the European cohort.
In the inter-continental play-offs, DR Congo saw off Jamaica after extra-time while Iraq got past Bolivia.
