Nicolas Manissier, the director of the Ballon d'Or award, denied rumors that the magazine France Football would award the 2020 prize to Robert Lewandowski.
"I will speak out to dispel any rumors about this," Manissier said on RAC1 channel on May 16. "At this time, we are not considering awarding the Ballon d'Or 2020 to Lewandowski. An organization like France Football has its own regulations, and we have to respect that."
[caption id="attachment_5293" align="alignnone" width="600"] Forward Robert Lewandowski warming up before the Barcelona vs. Porto match at Dragao Stadium, Portugal, in Group H of the Champions League on October 4, 2023. Image: Reuters.[/caption]
France Football canceled the 2020 award due to Covid-19, as the French Ligue 1 championship for the 2019-2020 season was canceled midway. The magazine's decision at that time sparked controversy, as other top European leagues continued despite playing without spectators. Lewandowski shone during this period, achieving a treble with Bayern Munich and also winning The Best award from FIFA.
The Ballon d'Or is considered the most prestigious individual football award, organized by France Football since 1956 and voted on by journalists and experts. In contrast, The Best award is seen as secondary, despite being voted on by coaches, team captains, and journalists. Lewandowski expressed his desire to still receive the 2020 Ballon d'Or, even if it was awarded late by several years.
In 2021, the Ballon d'Or returned, and despite Lewandowski winning the European Golden Shoe, he only finished second with 580 points, compared to Lionel Messi's 613 points. This was the only time the Polish forward made the top 3 for the Ballon d'Or.
Lewandowski left Bayern for Barcelona in the summer of 2022 but couldn't maintain his streak of scoring over 40 goals for seven consecutive seasons in Germany. After 92 appearances for , the 36-year-old striker scored 57 goals, and his chances of winning the Ballon d'Or diminished. Barcelona is in a transitional phase, and the Polish national team faces challenges in winning the Euro 2024 championship.
Currently, no player born after 1987 has won the Ballon d'Or, but this could change in 2024. According to British bookmakers, 24-year-old forward Vinicius Junior has a strong chance of winning, followed by Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, and Toni Kroos. Messi holds the record with eight Ballon d'Or awards and is only the eighth candidate for this year's award.
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