Forget the Maldives, Ibiza or Dubai. Since hanging up his boots, Grzegorz Krychowiak has been making the most of his free time in a rather unusual way. The former PSG midfielder is travelling around the planet with a particularly ambitious goal: to visit every country in the world. And to achieve it, the Pole is not afraid to venture far beyond traditional tourist destinations.
Grzegorz Krychowiak did not exactly leave a lasting impression at PSG, but his personality certainly stands out. The former player has never really been the typical holidaymaker. Even during his professional football career, the former Poland international used his time off to explore destinations far removed from the places usually frequented by football stars. Since retiring, that passion has reached another level. Now 36, the former Paris Saint-Germain and Sevilla FC player has set himself the goal of visiting every country in the world. According to his own tally, reported by several media outlets, he has already visited more than 140.
Afghanistan, Syria and Pakistan on Krychowiak’s travel list
And Krychowiak is clearly not simply trying to tick countries off his list by spending a few days in idyllic resorts. In recent months, the Pole has travelled to Afghanistan, Syria, Pakistan and Turkmenistan. Other trips have taken him to Mongolia, Nepal, Libya, Algeria, Somalia and Eritrea. He has also visited Socotra, the Yemeni island renowned for its spectacular landscapes and unique biodiversity. On social media, the former PSG player documents some of these adventures, often far removed from five-star hotels, posing in streets, markets and desert landscapes as he focuses more on discovering new places than showcasing luxury holidays.
This passion predates his retirement. As early as 2022, Krychowiak said he had already visited more than 100 countries. Alongside his wife Celia Jaunat, he had travelled to destinations including Japan, Fiji, New Caledonia, Madagascar and India. In early 2025, the Pole also revealed that he had saved a list of 100 wonders of the world on his phone that he wanted to see, with only seven still remaining at the time.
🌍😳 LES VACANCES COMPLÈTEMENT FOLLES DE KRYCHOWIAK EN AFGHANISTAN !
L’ancien joueur du PSG s’est lancé un défi : visiter TOUS les pays du monde. 🤯
Il en aurait déjà parcouru plus de 140, avec des destinations assez improbables pour des vacances :
🇦🇫 Afghanistan
🇸🇾 Syrie
🇵🇰… pic.twitter.com/2H5iimK9WI
— Vipsg_fr (@vipsg_fr) September 26, 2026
Now free from the demanding schedule of professional football, Krychowiak can accelerate his travels. His challenge goes far beyond ordinary holidays: he wants to be able to say that he has visited every country on the planet. It is certainly an unusual retirement plan for a player who spent just one season at PSG, in 2016-17, after winning two Europa League titles with Sevilla FC.
