Xavi - Messi Ballon d'Or win is 'football justice', BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool at American Express Community Stadium on March 12, 2022 in Brighton, United King. No one will ever dispute that Messi is still one of the best players in the world and one of theall-time greats, but his seventh Ballon d'Or felt like a reach compared to whatRobert Lewandowski accomplished for Bayern Munich and Poland in 2021. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. On Monday evening Lionel Messi won the . ", MORE: Ronaldo fires back at France Football editor comment. Its a fair assessment given that the man from Warsaw has scored the most club goals in all competitions of any player in one of Europes top five leagues in each of the last three calendar years. Robert Lewandowski (Poland, Bayern Munich), 580 pts. For more information, visit ow.ly/hElK50LwENy. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Or Lewandowski's 1st? He followed that up with winners medals in the DFL Supercup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup for an unprecedented 2020. Neymar (Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain), 7. In an interview with Pole TV show Moc Futbolu of Kanale Sportowym, the 33-year-old has broken the silence after the 2021 Ballon d'Or ceremony and he has expressed how unhappy he feels with the results. Robert Lewandowski, who would surely have won the award had it not been cancelled in 2020, is joined by the likes of Lionel Messi and Karim Benzema among the favourites for the Men's Ballon d . He scored a remarkable 15 Champions League goals in his first nine games this season (only failing to score in the final). Only journalists vote in the latter theres no clear verification.. The Polish goal machine just keeps on doing what he does best after netting an astonishing 45 goals in 38 appearances in all competitions so far this season. Ballon d'Or winner Luis Suarez has pledged to hand over his award to Robert Lewandowski if he doesn't win the prize this year. The 33-year-old has struck 11 times across his last 12 internationals, scoring three in the UEFA Euro 2020 groups and eight in 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying. We all know he should . The 34-year-old has also illustrated his importance as a leader within the camp after skippering the side in the absence of Marcelo. Five observations from Bayern Munichs lethargic 2-1 win against VfB Stuttgart, Sign up for the Robert Lewandowski - 69 goals (2021) . 18. Who, then, has put themselves in the frame for the biggest individual honour of them all, and who has some catching up to do? Hes been so incredibly consistent over the last three years like nobody else, said Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann of his main man in attack. A brace against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Nations League in October took him to 63 goals in 114 caps. Why Lionel Messi's 2021 Ballon d'Or win was a snub of Robert Lewandowski, Ronaldo fires back at France Football editor comment, World Cup playoffs draw and how they work. This service is provided on talkSPORT Ltd's Terms of Use in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Wayne Rooney (Everton and Manchester United), 10. I feel bad for RL9 not having his ballon d'or un 2020. It couldn't happenbecause of the pandemic, but I think you should also have it in your home.". It was first awarded in 1956. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Every year he outdoes himself and he's at a great club [Bayern Munich]. Ronaldo didnt win anything with Juventus, he wasnt even the European top scorer. "I want to share it with my national team teammates and thank them. That record is unlikely to ever be beaten, although only two of those goals have come at a major tournament, a record that he would like to improve next summer. By Ryan Reid. The Frenchman scored 44. 2 1 1 1 10. See What is a sport? @lewy_official #BallonDor #MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/yF6JEce7zu. As well as his record-breaking efforts last season, the Bayern No.9 has struck 25 times in 20 competitive matches so far in 2021/22. Ronaldo has now won the award six times in the nine years that it has been presented. To claim one, to Ferr, is to claim a . For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Barcelonas Robert Lewandowski gives instructions during the Champions League group C soccer match between Inter Milan and Barcelona at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. The Poland captain was rewarded for his efforts with a first ever Champions League crown, as well as The Best FIFA Mens Player award, but the golden ball was cruelly cancelled by the global pandemic. Messi and Deschamps do not vote for Mbappe, Messi wins Best FIFA Men's Player Award ahead of Mbappe and Benzema. However, the award also caused controversy many times, the most recent example being the cancellation for 2020 due to COVID-19, when many . Furthermore, his home country of Poland gave him the number one spot. With the seasons hes just had, France Football cannot afford to ignore Robert Lewandowski any longer. The Ballon d'Or has been running since 1956. Instead. Web Karim Benzema is presently the odds-on favorite to win the award while Robert Lewandowski Sadio Mane and Kylian . Former Bayern Munich and England midfielder Owen Hargreaves says Lewandowski would "almost certainly" have won the Ballon d'Or this year. Web With the 2022 FIFA World Cup now behind us the race for the 2023 Ballon dOr is well and truly on. The award, widely considered to be the most prestigious individual honour. His record in the Champions League has been mightily impressive after netting eight goals in as many appearances, with Klopps men chasing a seventh triumph in the competition. One of world footballs hottest young prospects is at the centre of attention once again, with his supposedly imminent move to Real Madrid now seemingly in doubt following reports he could sign a new deal with Paris Saint Germain. Even 2021 he deserved it.but 2020 was special. They also have a different voting system.The Best has two phases: first, a panel of experts chooses the 10 nominees per award. Lewandowski's year featured both consistency and results. He doesnt excite voters. In only two of those seasons has the winner scored more than Lewandowski's 55 goals (Messi's 73 in 2011-12 and 58 in 2014-15). But he will not be winning the Ballon d'Or, football's top individual prize. View our online Press Pack. 29 - Salah (7th) So if Argentina doesn't survive the semifinal penalty-kick shootout against Colombia, then Messi would have missed out on the Ballon d'Or? Chelsea midfielder N'golo Kante is fifth, Real Madrid's Karim Benzema is fourth and Jorginho third +++DONNARUMMA WINS YASHIN TROPHY AS BEST GOALKEEPER+++. MLS commissioner Garber suggests 'Beckham-like' deal for league to land Messi. document.write(" CITE THIS PAGE: "+ author + ", "" + document.title + "." Topend Sports Website, "+ published + ", "+ url + ", Accessed " + md.getDate()+" " + months[md.getMonth()] + " " + md.getFullYear()); 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Even after having achieved so much, he has plenty of targets on the horizon, and he doesnt look like missing. Johan Cruyff won three. Messi vs. CR7 Ballon d'Or, trophies Joshua Thomas 2 days ago. The winner was favorite Real Madrid's Karim Benzema. What competition does he have? He is a natural athlete; perhaps more than he is given credit for. Simon Borg is a senior editor for football/soccer at The Sporting News. There is little doubt the Bayern Munich and Poland striker is a worthy winner of a second successive Best FIFA Men's . The Frenchman scored 44 goals as Los Blancos won club footballs most prestigious trophy and LaLiga. #9 Robert Lewandowski. At one stage during his youth, he even considered giving up on football to become a cross-country runner. Lewandowskis coach, Hansi Flick, acknowledges that he is lucky enough to have the best striker in the world at his disposal. But who had the best 2021? 33 - Benzema (4th) Lewandowski's season ended with a clean sweep of major trophies and on a run of 21. Lewandowskis tally of 34 Bundesliga goals was a personal best too, coming in just 31 games at an average of one every 81 minutes. Ive been thinking about these two awards lately: FIFA Best Player and the Ballon dOr," he said. So, Xavi will have his task cut out when it comes to team selection and tactics as he looks to arrest the minor slump that Bara find themselves in before things . Please enter a valid email and try again. Messi's numbers may look better on paper (stats below as of the voting deadline of Oct. 24), but the twoalso play the game very differently. Messi is something we may never see again but Robert was sensational over the past 18 months. However, this summer saw the end to his spell in the Bundesliga as Lewandowski sought a new challenge, joining Barcelona in La Liga. In the 2020/21 season, Lewandowski scored an incredible 48 goals and provided nine assists in 40 matches in all competitions, as Bayern won the Bundesliga, DFL-Supercup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA. Lewandowski deserves the Ballon dOr. After the last two seasons hes had, he deserves it more than anybody especially since France Football owes him for unfairly cancelling the Ballon dOr last year. Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski has finally won one of the few individual trophies that has eluded him so far the European Golden Boot (also called shoe, but "boot" sounds cooler), which is awarded to the highest domestic scorer in Europe for the season. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Thats what talkSPORT.com is looking at, stretching back to 2000. But Messi wasn't even the most important player on his team during the Copa America. This years World Cup in Qatar will take place after the presentation of this years award, and the players exploits in that tournament will be judged for the following year. 1 Answer The Ballon d'Or is an annual football award presented by the French news magazine France Football. Stats only tell part of the story in theside-by-side comparison. Analysis and opinion from our chief football writer. . Borussia Dortmund's Erling Haaland has finished 11th in the final Ballon d'Or poll, ahead of the likes of Neymar and Romelu Lukaku. The most successful man in the history of the award will be hoping for an eighth golden ball in the twilight years of his career. Probably not. How to get into football - the most popular sport in the world, with clubs and facilities throughout the UK. Barca Universal writers pick their Ballon d'Or top three for 2021. Real Madrids Luka Modric took the gong in 2018 when he upset Ronaldo and Messis dominance, but many saw it as a protest vote, and an attempt to acknowledge Madrids incredible Champions League dominance. 29 - Messi (1st) The Ballon d'Or is voted for by 180 journalists from around the world, although there was no award in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. With the exception of 2018, he has been named Polish Footballer of the Year every year since 2011, an honour that he will undoubtedly claim in 2020 as well. Lewandowski was the top scorer in the 2019/20 Bundesliga (34 goals), the UEFA Champions League (15) and DFB Cup (six). The race to win the Golden Ball is well and truly on, with the return of the Champions League set to only intensify matters It might not seem that long ago since Karim Benzema was picking up the. He ended the campaign as top scorer in the Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League with a total of 55 goals. Lewandowski's season ended with a clean sweep of major trophies and on a run of 21 consecutive wins, with 55 goals and nine assists in 46 games. After a fallow Ballon d'Or year for Lionel Messi in 2022, he is way out in front of the 2023 bettingfor a trophy he won in 2022. . ), Karim Benzema was picking up the 2022 Ballon d'Or, Foden is BACK - but what's up with Haaland?! Shaun Custis questions the decision to give Messi the #BallonDor over Robert Lewandowski pic.twitter.com/YT3CGyTTRt. PSG exited the Champions League at the last-16 stage to Real Madrid, lost in the French Super Cup to Lille and were beaten by Nice in the French Coupe de France. The 33-year-old is on course to win a 10th Bundesliga title this season with Bayern nine points clear of Borussia Dortmund on the top of the table. However, Robert Lewandowski's odds have tumbled, and while many believed the Bayern Munich striker was cruelly denied the 2020 award, his form this year has made him a worthy contender and the . The 2020 edition of the Ballon d'Or was controversially cancelled by France Football, who cited the COVID-19 pandemic as their reason for doing so. I think a player who achieves this would win the Ballon dOr.. Lionel Messi admitted Robert Lewandowski "deserved to win the Ballon d'Or". Judged by a panel of journalists, the Ballon dOr ran in conjunction with FIFA from 2010 until 2015, when the governing body split to create its own and much less prestigious Best Player award. "This year he was honored as the top scorer, and I think yes he can make a run for the award next year. Sadio Mane (Liverpool and Bayern Munich), 4. Incredibly, he has managed to score 40-plus goals in seven consecutive years and this incredible consistency surely gives him a big chance of claiming the award for the first time. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain), 4. Since 2008, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated the prestigious World Soccer award, with Xavi and Luka Modric bucking the trend in 2010 and 2018 respectively. Nov 7, 2022. In 2020, though, there was no doubt about who would win, with Lewandowski vastly out-performing both with unrivalled goal-scoring and a treble win with Bayern Munich. In the second phase, journalists, fans, national team managers and captains all have a 25% of weight on the final results. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi since the pair of all-time greats took over in 2008. document.write("Page last modified: "+ md.getDate()+" " + months[md.getMonth()]