Robert Lewandowski has had quite an incredible season.
The Bayern Munich striker scored 55 goals in 47 appearances during 2019/20, helping his side win the Bundesliga, the DFB-Pokal and the Champions League.
If there’s such thing as a ‘perfect season’ then this was it.
Those sort of numbers deserve individual accolades.
While the Pole may well get that in the form of FIFA’s ‘The Best’ award, there will be no Ballon d’Or for him.
France Football took the decision to cancel the 2020 edition of the prestigious award due to the coronavirus pandemic making it an 'unfair playing field'.
Poor old, Lewa.
He’s got nowhere near winning the award throughout his career thanks to the duopoly of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Now, when he’s produced the kind of season that he has and outperformed the two greatest players to have ever played the game, the award is cancelled.
But every football fan knows he deserves it. In fact, even Lewandowski himself knows he deserves it.
In an interview with Polish outlet, Sportowe Fakty, the Bayern star was asked who he would have given the Ballon d’Or to.
His answer?
“Myself.”
When asked to explain his decision, Lewandowski then backed it up with facts.
“We won everything we could with Bayern. In every competition: Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League, I was the top scorer. I understand that the pressure of other parties on another player may be greater. But it's not like every footballer would win the Golden Ball by achieving what I do?” he replied.
Well said. Nobody can argue with that, can they?
But how did Lewandowski react to France Football’s controversial decision?
“I didn't think about it,” he admitted. “We had a lot of games ahead of us then. I realised that my priority was the Champions League. I didn't think about any individual awards.”
Shall we just all agree that the 2020 Ballon d’Or winner is Mr Robert Lewandowski?