The Barcelona goalkeeper openly admits that he puffs away on cigarettes but stressed that it doesn't set a good example to young fans.

Speaking to ESPN, Szczesny said: "There are some parts of the game where I believe I can be a perfect example for young people or, in fact, for my team-mates.

"And there are some things in my career that you better not follow. In a few aspects, I fail at [being an example], but I try to be the best version of myself, and I try to give the correct example to my teammates, to young kids who watch us.

"But mentioning the subject of smoking, please do not follow me and don't do it. I've lost the fight. When I was very young, I created a habit that is very negative for me, and I know it is. I just lose against it. So for anybody watching: Don't do what I did."

Szczesny came out of retirement to join Barca last October after regular keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen suffered a serious knee injury but played down the role he has played in an impressive season that sees the Catalan club still in contention for three trophies.

The Poland international said: "I think a big part of it is coincidence. I mean, my input into us not losing a single game has been rather minimal.

"The team is playing very good football, scoring a lot of goals. You try not to mess it up for them. That's about it. I've just been lucky to step into the goal at the moment where the team started winning games.

"Also how we defend. It makes my job much easier because when they want to defend and they block every shot, win every tackle, every header, so I can just, for the lack of a better phrase, go and smoke a cigarette."