Robert Lewandowski and Mapi León's view of the offensive comments Barça Women players receive on social media

To coincide with International Women's Day under the FC Barcelona slogan 'Equality is in our colours' and its commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion, the Club has organised a meeting between Robert Lewandowski and María León: the striker and the defender went about reading some of the comments that Barça Women players receive daily on their social media accounts. 

'Stop publishing content on this stupid team that no-one cares about,' 'Get back in the kitchen' and 'Women's football is not real football' are examples of said messages that Lewandowski reads out loud from the Barça Women Instagram account. The two players give their reactions to the offensive messages on a video recorded by the Club to share with fans and the whole world with one clear objective: that future generations can go even further in the battle to make their dream of becoming female footballers come true and that they never stop fighting for what they want. 

Lewandowski's reaction is one of surprise and he says: "These comments are difficult to read and hear, ever for me." He uses the example of his wife as a role model and someone he admires for the daily effort she puts in to achieve her dreams and demonstrate her value. He also talks about his daughters who he personally encourages to fight for their dreams and for whom he displays a preoccupation over the future with regards to these attitudes. 

Mapi León, for her part, shares his reaction. "It seems that because you are a women you have to do a lot more for people to take you seriously," and she talks about her own experiences at school where nobody took seriously her idea of becoming a footballer because she was a girl. Getting to where you want to be is possible with bravery, character and strength being key for the Barça Women defender. 

More than half a century of support and recognition 

FC Barcelona continue working hard to promote the role of women in sport with their efforts focused on advancing equality and women's role in sport as well the Club's commitment to women's sport and in particular women's football which dates back more than 50 years.