Inside Lewandowksi's pre-match routine

While many footballers have routines and superstitions to help them gear up for matchdays, the reigning FIFA Best Men’s Player goes even further, leaving no stone unturned in his relentless pursuit of greatness.

For Lewandowski, matches begin long before kick-off, aware that preparation is everything. So much so that he takes his own pillow with him for overnight stays.

"I'm often on the road and sleep in hotels," he told GQ Germany. "So I always focus on the pillow I have in my room. It's not too hard or too soft, as sometimes they're too big or too small.

"Because if you sleep well, you're better prepared for the game.

"[My pillow] is a healthy pillow. It adapts perfectly to your body, to your head. That means that no matter how heavy or light you are, the pillow always fits perfectly."

With this season's 35-goal leading scorer set to return to action following injury as Bayern bid to seal their ninth consecutive Bundesliga title away to Mainz on Saturday, it's likely that Lewandowski will continue with his tried and trusted methods.

Watch: Lewandowski's race to 40 goals

Following a good night's sleep, the next step is perhaps a surprising one: getting his hair right. Sound silly? Perhaps, but there is a lot to be said for the peace of mind and sense of security a well-coifed mane can give you.

And who are we to argue with a striker who has made a habit of setting new scoring records almost with every passing week?

"I like to have all the things I need in my wash bag," Lewandowski said. "Perfume, cosmetics, some hair wax before games, because a lot can happen when you're playing.

"If I head the ball for example, then it messes up my hair."

Once groomed, the 32-year-old, who has 271 goals in 346 Bundesliga outings to date, likes to start the day with a cup of coffee - but not just any brew. Lewandowski has his own brand, RL9 Coffee, whose tagline is "Success starts with coffee", which the player says is his "cup of power which I share willingly".

"I have children at home so I can't sleep in very long," said the Bayern forward, who says he is also partial to apples, bananas and mangos for his pre-match fuel. "I get up relatively early, between seven and eight o'clock, depending on when my children wake up, because I have to help my wife get them breakfast and ready for kindergarten.

"This time with a coffee in my hand means a lot to me and I enjoy it. I'm awake faster and ready to train hard sooner."

Once it's time to head to the stadium, the Poland international gets in the zone by listening to music on his in-ear bluetooth headphones.

"Before games, for example, when we're already on the way to the stadium, I listen to R&B or hip-hop music. Chris Brown, Justin Timberlake or Usher, to chill a bit before the game, but also to focus myself. That's also a part of my preparation."

It clearly works. And now, having missed Bayern's last four Bundesliga matches due to a ligament injury in his right knee sustained during the last international break, Lewandowski has four league outings left to score the five goals that would see him equal Gerd Müller's single-season record of 40 set almost half a century ago.

Thanks to his trusty pillow, hair wax, coffee and headphones, anything is possible.