90min

Robert Lewandowski Insists He Would Have Won 2020 Ballon d'Or

By Nischal Schwager-Patel

Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski.
Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski. / MATTHEW CHILDS/Getty Images
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Robert Lewandowski has said that he would have won the Ballon d’Or this season, had it not been cancelled.

The prestigious award has been cancelled this year for the very first time due to the coronavirus pandemic, after a number of leagues around the world were affected.

Lewandowski celebrates scoring against Olympique Lyonnais.
Lewandowski celebrates scoring against Olympique Lyonnais. / Pool/Getty Images

Speaking to Polish outlet Onet Sport about who should have won the prestigious award, Lewandowski said: “Myself. We won everything there was to win. I won the award for top goalscorer in every competition. I think a player who achieves this would win the Ballon d'Or.”

Lewandowski had his best ever season in front of goal, helping Bayern Munich to an unprecedented treble. The Polish striker scored an incredible 55 goals in 47 appearances, only failing to make a goal contribution in 15% of his games.

He earned a number of personal accolades en route to picking up silverware in a spectacular campaign. He was the Champions League’s top scorer and assist provider, while being named the Bundesliga’s Player of the Season along with finishing as top scorer for the third year running.

Lewandowski with the Champions League trophy.
Lewandowski with the Champions League trophy. / Pool/Getty Images

Lewandowski added: “I knew my priorities. My focus was on the Champions League, not on any possible individual awards. The decision to cancel the gala was made in the middle of the year and the Ballon d'Or was to be staged in December. The deadline was too distant to occupy my mind.

“I didn't think about it at all. I knew we still had the Champions League, then the Bundesliga restarted after the short break.”

The Ballon d'Or award.
The Ballon d'Or award. / THOMAS SAMSON/Getty Images

It would have been a first Ballon d’Or for Lewandowski, making him the first ever Pole to win the award. No Bayern player has won it since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981, with the club’s current chairman winning it in back to back years.

Bayern won the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and the Champions League in an outstanding season, rejuvenated by new manager Hans-Dieter Flick to complete the treble. Die Roten are yet to lose a game in 2020, currently on a remarkable 30-game unbeaten run.

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