The Ballon d’Or often stirs controversy in the soccer world, with even Cristiano Ronaldo voicing strong criticism. Recently, Robert Lewandowski joined the chorus of dissent, echoing the Portuguese star’s sentiments with his own sharp remarks about the esteemed award.
Robert Lewandowski has consistently ranked among the world’s elite soccer players for several years. His stellar performance propelled him to win the UEFA Best Player in Europe award in 2020 and earn consecutive FIFA The Best honors in 2020 and 2021. Despite these accolades, the coveted Ballon d’Or has eluded him. In a surprising turn, the Barcelona striker recently echoed Cristiano Ronaldo‘s remarks concerning this prestigious award.
In a recent interview with the BBC, Robert Lewandowski confidently expressed his belief that several Barcelona players genuinely have a shot at winning the Ballon d’Or. The Polish striker stated emphatically, “Yes, because of how we’ve played all season… We have players who can be favorites for this kind of titles.”
While Lewandowski is optimistic about his teammates’ chances, he didn’t shy away from offering a critique, echoing Cristiano Ronaldo ideas. He candidly noted, “I don’t know now what is more important: FIFA’s The Best, that I have to say is more fair, or the Ballon d’Or that is more commercial, you know.” In reflecting on not having received the award, he commented, “No one can understand that situation. It’s part of football and something… some politics.”
Robert Lewandowski’s issue with Lionel Messi over the Ballon d’Or
In 2020, France Football canceled the Ballon d’Or ceremony, unlike FIFA and UEFA, which awarded Robert Lewandowski. The Polish star was the standout favorite, winning everything and shining at Bayern Munich. The next year, Lionel Messi delivered a heartfelt speech while receiving the Ballon D’Or 2021 award, asserting Robert deserved to win it. However, Lewandowski’s response ignited controversy, drawing considerable attention.
“He asked for a Ballon d’Or for me but didn’t vote for me for The Best,” Lewandowski said. All this because the Argentine voted for Neymar, Mbappé, and Benzema, which sparked the striker’s anger. Following these words, Lionel Messi did not remain silent and responded, “I was bothered by the statements Lewandowski had made. Because when I won the Ballon d’Or, I truly felt what I said about him,” the Argentine star said, via ESPN.
Nevertheless, Lionel Messi acknowledged that they have resolved their differences. “We had a talk. And we agreed that it was all a misunderstanding. I ignored all the past stuff because it was Robert, and it worked out well for us. We talked about the club (FC Barcelona), the city… Everything was fine,” he said, as reported by Marca.
Although they resolved their personal issues, the situation revealed Robert’s genuine thoughts about the Ballon d’Or award criteria, which he deems unfair. Despite not having won the prestigious accolade, he has already cemented his legacy in the world of soccer, establishing himself as one of the premier strikers of the modern era.
From: bolavip.com