Robert Lewandowskiwas second in the race for the 2021 Ballon d’Or, with Lionel Messi eventually winning the award, but the Pole has revealed his sadness at not coming out on top while also picking up on the Paris Saint-Germain forward’s words.
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 Club World Cup. While during this campaign he has notched up 16 Bundesliga goals in 14 games.
I felt sadness,” Lewandowski told Polish outlet Kanale Sportowym. “I can’t deny it.
“I can’t say I was happy, on the contrary. I have a feeling of sadness. To be so close, to compete with Messi, of course I respect how he plays and what he has achieved. The mere fact that I was able to compete with him shows me the level that I was able to reach.”
The Bayern Munich striker also took aim at Messi, after the PSG forward urged France Football to award the 2020 Ballon d’Or to Lewandowski.
I’m not that enthusiastic about getting the 2020 award,” Lewandowski said.
“I would like it [Messi’s 2020 Ballon d’Or statement] to be a sincere and courteous statement from a great player and not just an empty words.”
