SUMMARY
- Robert Lewandowski lost the 2021 Ballon d'Or trophy to Lionel Messi.
- Even after 3 years, it doesn't look like the former Bayern Munich star is still not over it.
There’s a saying that time heals everything, but three years are certainly not enough to thaw the cold air between Robert Lewandowski and Lionel Messi. Two of the best players of their generation, Messi and Lewandowski have been at odds over the 2021 Ballon d’Or. While it seemed that the tensions had cooled down, Lewandowski has once again opened up about missing out on the coveted trophy three years ago.
In 2020, Robert Lewandowski had unarguably the best season of his career. With his former club FC Bayern Munich, Lewandowski won everything there was to win that year, including the Champions League. However, due to the unexpected COVID-19 pandemic, the Ballon d’Or wasn’t given out that year. The following season, Lionel Messi’s heroics at the Copa America with Argentina led to him winning the trophy in 2021.
Robert Lewandowski on not winning the Ballon d’Or in 2020 and 2021:
“I had the best years of my career in 2020 and 2021. A friend recently sent me statistics: I scored 100 goals in 85 games. Of course, I would have loved to receive the Ballon d’Or award at some point. The one… pic.twitter.com/kXsZE0gmif
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) April 28, 2024
Reflecting back on his missed Ballon d’Or, Lewandowski admitted that he’s still not over not winning it back in 2020. During an interview with Tobi Altschaffl, he said, “I’ve heard there are rumors that the 2020 Ballon d’Or could still be awarded belatedly. That year was outstanding for me, I was at my highest level, and we won everything.” The Polish international also lamented how he didn’t win it despite having outstanding statistics that year.
However, Lewandowski steered clear of any controversy by admitting that the 2021 Ballon d’Or was indeed deservingly won by Messi. He added, “The one from 2021 belongs to Lionel Messi.” The well-thought statement was probably due to his dispute with the Inter Miami star over the pair’s comments in the aftermath of the 2021 Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Lionel Messi revealed his Ballon d’Or row with Robert Lewandowski at the 2022 World Cup
During the 2021 Ballon d’Or ceremony, Lionel Messi admitted that Robert Lewandowski missing out on the prize a year back was unfair. The Argentine ace also requested the concerned authorities to hand over the prize to the FC Barcelona star. While Messi’s earnest request hasn’t been conceded to yet by the authorities, his words didn’t go down well with Lewandowski.
🚨🚨🗣️ Leo Messi about Robert Lewandowski:
“Lewandowski’s statement bothered me because when I won the Ballon d’Or, I said the thing that I really felt, but for him to speak in this way, that bothered me.
After that we met, we talked and agreed that it was a misunderstanding.… pic.twitter.com/9ArDTwscnp
— Managing Barça (@ManagingBarca) December 1, 2023
The 35-year-old striker had claimed that Messi’s words during the ceremony sounded “empty” to him. Messi, of course, responded to this almost a year later when they crossed roads in Qatar during the 2022 World Cup. Fans still remember the cold moment between the Argentine and Polish skipper when Messi avoided shaking hands with the latter during their group stage clash.
A month after winning the World Cup, Messi finally explained what really happened between him and Lewandowski at the World Cup. He said, “His statement bothered me. Because when I won the Ballon d’Or and said what I said, I really felt it.” However, the 36-year-old also added that what happened back then was simply a misunderstanding and things are now normal between the two.
Lionel Messi’s 2021 Ballon d’Or win was marred by PSG controversy
Like every Ballon d’Or ceremony, the 2021 edition also had its fair share of controversy. There were those who felt as if Robert Lewandowski should have been a more deserving winner than Lionel Messi. However, a new element of controversy has been revealed about the 2021 Ballon d’Or, and it involves Messi and his former club, PSG.
🚨💣| According to an ongoing judicial investigation, PSG attempted to lobby for Lionel Messi to receive the Ballon d’Or.
Pascal Ferré received various favors between 2020 and 2021 when he was editor-in-chief of the magazine and responsible for organizing the Ballon d’Or.… pic.twitter.com/SvdmgpjqnH
— Football Talk (@FootballTalkHQ) January 6, 2024
As revealed by an investigation, PSG allegedly attempted to lobby for their former star, Lionel Messi, to win the Ballon d’Or in 2021. The investigation also revealed an alleged close link between PSG and Pascal Ferré, the former president of French Football, which awards soccer’s most coveted individual prize. Nevertheless, while Ferré has denied these accusations, neither PSG nor Messi have officially addressed them.
