Lewandowski should be awarded cancelled 2020 Ballon d’Or – Messi

Lionel Messi says Robert Lewandowski should be awarded the cancelled 2020 Ballon d’Or after pipping the Bayern Munich striker to this year’s prize.

Messi claimed the most prestigious individual prize in football for a record seventh time at last night’s gala in Paris, beating Lewandowski by a fine margin of just 33 voting points.

The Argentine was rewarded for his magnificent performances in leading Argentina to the Copa America title this summer, claiming his first international trophy.

But Lewandowski could still be considered unlucky to miss out, having scored 51 times in 40 club appearances this season, breaking Gerd Muller’s single season Bundesliga scoring record and lifting a German league and cup double in the process.

That follows on from last season, when Lewandowski was the star man in Bayern’s treble winning side, and the Pole was named Fifa Best Men’s Player of the Year in recognition of his performances.

Read Also: Lewandowski wins striker of the year at Ballon d’Or awards

However, France Football magazine opted not to award the Ballon d’Or as a result of the heavy disruption to the football calendar caused by the Covid pandemic – something Messi believes should be retrospectively amended.

“Robert, you deserve your Ballon D’Or. Last year, everyone was in agreement to say that you were the big winner of this award,” Messi said.

“Hopefully France Football will give you the 2020 Ballon d’Or. We all believe you deserved it and I hope you can have it at home.”