The 30 nominees for the Ballon d'Or shortlist were announced this week in what is expected to be one of the most open battles in recent memory.

While the biggest individual prize in the game has been dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for well over a decade now, this year could see some challengers to their throne.

The likes of Luka Modric have managed to punctuate the duopoly but, after some seismic shifts in the club landscape over the summer, there is a possibility that some one else might join Modric in that revolution.

While Messi is looking well on track to win yet another golden ball, Bayern Munich hitman Robert Lewandowski has emerged as a genuine contender as well.

In fact, after what has been an incredible two years, Lewandowski himself believes that he has down enough to get his hands on the famous prize.

In an interview per Marca, Lewandowski was asked what he thought his chances of winning are by going through some of his biggest achievements since the last ceremony in 2019.

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"The possibility of winning the Ballon d'Or means a lot to me, it makes me feel proud," he began.

"If you consider all that I have achieved not only this year, but also last year, that the ceremony was canceled, I won many titles, I scored many goals, It would mean a lot to me to win it.

"To win the Champions League, Super Cup, the Club World Cup, I broke Gerd Müller's record of 41 goals in the Bundesliga, it was something impressive, it makes me feel very proud and happy.

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"Everyone saw what I did and what I continue to do. My achievements can answer this question, because the last two years were a great achievement not only for me, but for every footballer in history."

Lewandowski makes a very good point.

He has been playing football from another planet for what feels like an age now and is more than deserving of the title of best in the world.

Whether or not he has done enough to eclipse the achievements of one Leo Messi, remains to be seen.