‘And the winner of the 2020 Ballon d’Or award is…’It’s time to start debating who the best player this year has been, although the coronavirus pandemic - which put football on hold for three months - makes that a little more complicated than usual.The Champions League, so influential in determining the outcome of the vote, has been pushed back so we’re left to rely much on the past few weeks of action.And nobody has performed better than Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski.The Polish hitman has scored 12 goals in 10 games since football restarted in Germany, firing the Bavarians to a domestic double.
With 51 goals in all competitions, it’ll be hard to look past him for the individual prize should Bayern prevail in the Champions League.
Lewandowski will face competition from the usual folk, though. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have both enjoyed fine individual campaigns, and don’t be surprised if Kevin De Bruyne receives more votes than he ever has.
BT Sport asked their Twitter followers to name their three nominees for the award and Robin van Persie got in on the act by submitting three names.
It’s safe to say Van Persie’s selections have caused a stir.
He snubbed Messi and Ronaldo and instead went for Lewandowski, De Bruyne and Sadio Mane - in that order.
Lewandowski will be a popular choice for the award but it’s hard to imagine both Messi and Ronaldo failing to crack the top three.
Fans were quick to respond to the former Dutch striker.
GIVEMESPORT’s Scott Wilson says:
No Messi… really, Robin?
As a huge fan of the Barcelona magician, I’d give him the award right here, right now.
If not for the ineptitude of Barcelona’s board and Quique Setien’s disappointing coaching, Messi would probably be on his way to another La Liga title.
But I have to admit that Messi’s chances of winning will certainly take a massive hit should Barcelona fail to win the title or Champions League.
That’s just the way the voting goes these days.