Barcelona star Robert Lewandowski has reopened his frustration over missing out on the 2020 Ballon d’Or award.
The 2020 award was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic with Lewandowski the red-hot favourite to win his first-ever Ballon d’Or gong.
However, after France Football’s decision not to give out the award remotely (or award it in future), Lionel Messi retained his 2019 title in 2021.
Lewandowski scored a career-high 55 goals across all competitions in the 2019/20 season as Bayern Munich won a Bundesliga, DFB Pokal and UEFA Champions League treble.
His sensational form outstripped his rivals, but the award cancellation left a gap in his trophy cabinet, which he has consistently objected to.
Lewandowski finished 4th in the 2015 award – in his highest finish prior to 2020 – with a second place spot behind Messi in 2021.
The Poland international continues to be one of Europe’s deadliest finishers, with 19 goals in 17 appearances at Barcelona so far this season, but his omission from the 2020 Ballon d’Or continues to an issue for the 36-year-old.
“At the time I didn’t understand why. All the leagues were being played, the Champions League was being played, and for me it was like, why? I know football works sometimes like politics, if you have football, you have business. If you have a business, you have politics”, he stated on Rio Ferdinand Presents.
“(Would I accept the 2020 award now?) Of course I would.
Lewandowski is on course to trigger a clause to extend his Barcelona contract from the end of the current campaign until to the completion of the 2025/26 season.
Barcelona are currently leading Real Madrid by six points at the top of La Liga and Lewandowski’s goals will be crucial to him challenging for a second Spanish league title.
