The Ballon d’Or ceremony is set for Monday, and this year’s selection is expected to be highly competitive. Three players are leading the race, with two from Barcelona — Lamine Yamal and Raphinha.
What could have been a grand celebration for the Catalan club might be more muted. According to Mundo Deportivo, two important teammates — Robert Lewandowski and Pedri — are likely not to attend the event.
Having attended before, Pedri has chosen to rest this time. With Barcelona’s schedule increasing in intensity, the midfielder prefers to remain in Spain and focus on the upcoming league match against Real Oviedo on Thursday.
Pedri is currently the only Barça outfield player to start every single game this season, including all four opening league matches and their Champions League debut, making his decision to skip the gala understandable.
Pedri and Robert Lewandowski of FC Barcelona
Why Lewandowski might not attend
Lewandowski, on the other hand, reportedly chose not to go because he doesn’t feel like a strong candidate for the award. There may also be unresolved issues between France Football and the Polish player from the events of 2020.
Many believe Lewandowski was “robbed” of the 2020 Ballon d’Or when France Football canceled that year’s ceremony due to COVID-19, creating significant controversy as he was the favorite to win.
During the 2019-20 season, Lewandowski helped Bayern Munich achieve a historic treble, winning the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and Champions League, and was the top scorer across all competitions.
The Lewandowski controversy continues
The debate resurfaced in 2021 when Lionel Messi won the award after a remarkable season with Barcelona. Even Messi acknowledged the situation in his acceptance speech, stating that Lewandowski deserved the 2020 award. This public acknowledgment intensified the sentiment that the striker was unfairly denied a prestigious individual accolade.