MONTRÉAL, Québec – Hugo Cuypers scored again for the Chicago Fire tonight, extending his scoring streak to 10 games and solidifying his spot as Major League Soccer’s leading goalscorer.
But the biggest story in striker circles today – and one pertaining to the Fire – was the news of Robert Lewandowski’s official departure from FC Barcelona as a free agent.
The Fire have been continually linked with a move for the Polish legend for several years, and there’s no sign of that stopping, despite Cuypers’ MVP-level form. Head Coach Gregg Berhalter shed light on the situation today following the Fire’s 2-0 win in Montréal, opening the door to a collaboration between the two star forwards.
“It’s no secret that we’ve been in communication with Robert,” Berhalter said. “We think he’s a fantastic player. We think they would be a great pairing, a top pairing in this league. There’s still a lot to be done, but we admire Robert, and we think he’s a fantastic player and one of the best strikers ever.”
Interestingly, the Fire’s approach today resembled a 4-2-4 shape, even if it was technically a 4-2-3-1 on paper. Robin Lod, who lined up as the nominal #10, was almost level with Cuypers for most of the match, which left a big gap open in the midfield without any #8 or connectors. Nonetheless, the Fire got the job done, with Philip Zinckernagel and Cuypers scoring either side of the half.
Cuypers, meanwhile, told MIR97 Media on Wednesday that he isn’t focused on rumors outside, especially as they pertain to his own future. Should the Fire’s pursuit of Lewandowski advance further, there will undoubtedly be many calls and trade proposals within the league, though the Fire seem highly unlikely to give up on Cuypers any time soon.
“I’m playing here, I’m doing well,” Cuypers said following the 3-1 win at D.C. United. “Everything that’s being said outside is out of my control. It’s not something I focus on at all. I don’t care.”
For now, Cuypers is leading the Golden Boot race in MLS, ahead of the likes of Lionel Messi, Petar Musa, and Sam Surridge. His ten consecutive games with a goal are the third-most in MLS history, trailing just streaks from Josef Martínez and Carlos Vela. He’s likely to be named a league All-Star as well, with voting currently ongoing.
Berhalter hopes that Cuypers – whose efficiency in front of goal has seen a visible uptick in 2026 when compared to his two previous seasons in Chicago – can continue this run of form indefinitely, which doesn’t sound like the words of someone ready to replace his star center forward.
“If you look at the fact that every game is a new opportunity, and Hugo’s a top striker, every game he should have an opportunity to score,” Berhalter told MIR97 Media. “In theory, I guess he should be able to go on forever.”
