Lionel Messi was awarded the 2021 Ballon d’Or on Monday, with voters determining his efforts in leading Argentina to the Copa America title, as well as carrying a poor Barcelona side to a Copa Del Rey crown, warranted a record seventh Ballon d’Or.
The decision has led to a predictable wave of criticism over what many see as an egregious snub of Bayern Munich and Poland striker Robert Lewandowski, who scored the most goals in Europe in 2021, and won another Bundesliga title along with a Club World Cup with Bayern.
For his part, Messi acknowledged that Lewandowski was a deserved choice to win the award in 2020, when France Football — which sponsors the award — decided against awarding the prize last year, when Lewandowski would have been the runaway choice after helping lead Bayern Munich to a sweep of every trophy it competed for.
Messi finished ahead of Lewandowski and Chelsea midfielder Jorginho, who finished third after helping the Blues win the UEFA Champions League and starred on Italy’s Euro-winning side. Karim Benzema finished fourth.
Lewandowski was a worthy contender in 2021, but the reality is much of the backlash over Messi’s win this year is a product of Lewandowski being kept from his deserved 2020 honor. If Lewandowski had received the award he deserved last year, there wouldn’t be nearly as much criticism over Messi securing the honor after leading Argentina to the first major international title of his national team career.
What did you think of Messi winning the 2021 Ballon d’Or? Feel he was the deserving winner, or do you think Lewandowski deserved it because of the 2020 snub?
Share your thoughts below.
Outrageous lewa has been bettered in 2020 and 2021 I don’t see how he was not afforded the balon dor Messi has won soo many this could have Been Roberts one he may never get another shot really unfair and def favoritisms
Look at the stats he was not better than Messi in 2021. Scoring more goals doesn’t make you better
Did he even deserve his sixth ballon d’or?..Van D4 performed well for liverpool that season..and I don’t see any African player in that top 5….mane and Salah have performed well the past 3 seasons yet they need to change “ID” to make the top 3…as for Robert….if i was him i wouldn’t have taken that stupid best striker award
They really should just start calling it the “Messi or Ronaldo” award instead because we all know one of those two will win.
Lewa deserved the title this year, he did amazing job, unfair the ballon d’or committee decision, Messi is a legend but didn’t have the same level like Lewa this year. Unfair
It totally outrageous denying Robert L the award…it’s now shows that Messi is the favorite of the group or whatever so they are called…..they outrightly abuse the award…it doesn’t make SENSE any longer…. I think the award should be council forever. It’s a total waste of peoples precious time!