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Robert Lewandowski is a strong contender for the 2021 Ballon d'Or award after having a stellar year for club and country.
He was tipped by many to win the award last year after playing a key role in Bayern Munich's continental treble. However, the COVID-19 outbreak meant that the Ballon d'Or award was canceled for the year.
To his credit, Lewandowski started this year from where he left off in 2020. The Polish attacker smashed 41 goals to break the late Gerd Muller's five-decade-old record for most goals in a Bundesliga season. The 33-year-old then scored three goals at Euro 2020 even as Poland finished bottom of their group.
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Lewandowski has started his 2021-22 campaign on a tear. He has already racked up 25 goals across competitions. The Poland international now has 61 goals for club and country this year, more than anybody else.
Considering his stellar numbers across competitions and rich trophy haul, many legends of the game have tipped Lewandowski to win the 2021 Ballon d'Or award.
On that note, here's what 10 such former players have said about the Pole's credentials:
#10 Kevin De Bruyne (2021 Ballon d'Or contender)
Kevin De Bruyne is himself a contender for the 2021 Ballon d'Or award. But he has no qualms in admitting that Lewandowski's exploits during the year stand head and shoulders above anybody else's.
He said about the Pole:
"If I have to choose, I'm looking at the two-year period because we didn't have one last year so I'd choose Lewandowski for what he has done in the last two years goalscoring-wise. He'd be my pick."
De Bruyne couldn't have been more right. Lewandowski has scored over 100 goals for club and country in the last two years. He has won two Bundesliga titles and a Champions League title, among others.
#9 Hristo Stoichkov (1994 Ballon d'Or winner)
Hristo Stoichkov is arguably the greatest Bulgarian player to have graced the game. He played a key role in taking Bulgaria on an unexpected run to the 1994 FIFA World Cup semi-finals. Stoichkov also starred in Barcelona's La Liga triumph that year.
His exploits won him the 1994 Ballon d'Or award, two years after he finished second to Marco van Basten. While acknowledging that Jorginho would be a deserving winner, the former player has put his weight behind Lewandowski, saying:
"Jorginho? He has a chance to win this year for what he did with Chelsea and the national team. But it doesn't depend on me, but on the journalists. I would vote for a player who has not done just one year, but 4-5 years at a high level. If he also won the Nations League and the World Cup, I would give it to him. For me, however, (Robert) Lewandowski would deserve it."
Jorginho is another strong contender, playing a key role in Chelsea's Champions League triumph and repeating the trick for Italy at Euro 2020. Lewandowski, arguably, has had better numbers and performances than the Italian. That would make him a deserving winner of the 2021 Ballon d'Or award.
#8 Paolo Maldini (two-time Ballon d'Or podium-finisher)
Paolo Maldini is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the game's history. He enjoyed a hugely successful career with AC Milan and Italy. Maldini twice finished in the podium places in the Ballon d'Or race (1994 and 2003), but didn't win the award on both occasions.
Now, Milan's technical director, Maldini, has said that Lionel Messi, Karim Benzema and Robert Lewandowski are among the 2021 Ballon d'Or contenders. But he said that among the trio, Lewandowski deserves the accolade more, saying:
"I think that this year Robert Lewandowski deserves the Ballon d'Or. Karim Benzema could also win, but Lewandowski kept the incredible 'hunger' for scoring goals. He broke many records with his efficiency. Lewandowski, Benzema, and Messi will surely be the top three. I think Messi has the best chance, I personally would like Lewandowski to win."
It remains to be seen if Lewandowski beats the likes of six-time winner Messi and Benzema to win his maiden Ballon d'Or award.
#7 Rafael Marquez (former Barcelona and Mexico defender)
Rafael Marquez enjoyed a successful career with club and country. The 2008-09 continental treble winner with Barcelona also won two Gold Cups with Mexico.
The defender, much like the others on the list, has tipped Robert Lewandowski to win the 2021 Ballon d'Or award, saying:
"This year, Lewandowski has been the most consistent, and Bayern is one of the favourites to win another Champions League."
The four-time La Liga winner couldn't have been more spot-on with his observation. Lewandowski's goals are powering Bayern to another trophy-rich campaign.
#6 Rio Ferdinand (former Manchester United and England defender)
Rio Ferdinand is another former player who wants Robert Lewandowski to win this year's Ballon d'Or award.
The former Manchester United and England defender enjoyed a successful career. He won the Champions League title and multiple Premier League titles. About the Ballon d'Or 2021, he said:
"This is a special, special player. Ronaldo and Messi have always been the benchmark, always, but Robert Lewandowski, it’s his time to potentially win the Ballon d’Or this year."
Speaking about Lewandowski's stellar exploits during the year, Ferdinand remarked:
"In the calendar year, by the way, in the 38 games he’s played he’s got 50 goals. No one is near that. This is today in the game, the goals are ridiculous, he scores every type of goal – that’s what I love about him. He’s got your No.9 goals where you’re at the back-post heading balls in like that, he’s got deft touches."
Lewandowski is up to 61 goals for the year now, more than ten goals ahead of anybody else. It remains to be seen if that tally and his trophy haul this year will help him win the Ballon d'Or award.
#5 Rivaldo (1999 Ballon d'Or winner)
Rivaldo was one of the best players of his generation during his playing days. The former Brazil international won the 1999 Ballon d'Or award.
The 49-year-old has said this year's Ballon d'Or award could see a three-horse race between Messi, Lewandowski and Mohamed Salah. However, he feels it's Lewandowski who's the favorite to win the coveted award, saying:
“Robert Lewandowski is the favourite to win the Ballon d'Or when it is awarded on 29 November. He would be a deserved winner, as would Lionel Messi and Mo Salah."
It remains to be seen if Lewandowski will steer clear of the competition on Monday and become the latest winner of the Ballon d'Or award.
#4 Luis Suarez (1960 Ballon d'Or winner)
Barcelona legend Luis Suarez was one of the earliest winners of the Ballon d'Or, winning it in 1960. He won multiple La Liga and Serie A titles.
The 86-year-old Spaniard has also thrown his weight behind Robert Lewandowski to win this year's Ballon d'Or award. Speaking to Carrusel Deportivo (via EuroSport), Suarez said:
"Give Lewandowski the Ballon d'Or, damn it! If not, I'll give you mine!"
Lewandowski would have already been a Ballon d'Or winner had the award not been canceled last year. It remains to be seen if the prolific Pole will add another feather to his cap by winning the coveted award this year.
#3 Lothar Matthaus (1990 Ballon d'Or winner)
Germany and Bayern Munich legend Lothar Matthaus has also tipped Robert Lewandowski to win this year's Ballon d'Or award.
The 1990 Ballon d'Or winner starred in Germany's victorious FIFA World Cup campaign in Italy in 1990. Speaking about Lewandowski's credentials for this year's Ballon d'Or award, Matthaus said the race would be close. But he added that the Pole has fared better than some of his rivals, and deserves to win the accolade.
He was quoted as saying by AS in this regard:
"I want (Lewandowski) to win the Ballon d'Or because he already deserved it last year. This year is closer, but he is my favourite.Benzema has had a great season, but he has not won any title. He was knocked out of the Euros with France and he hasn’t been champion with (Real) Madrid in Spain.”
Benzema has had a great year for club and country, scoring goals galore. But he failed to win any major titles, winning only the UEFA Nations League with France. That could go against him in the 2021 Ballon d'Or race.
#2 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (two-time Ballon d'Or winner)
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was one of the best players of his generation. The former Bayern Munich and Germany player is one of a handful of players to win consecutive Ballon d'Or awards.
The former Bayern Munich CEO won the 1980 and 1981 Ballon d'Or awards. He hopes to see Robert Lewandowski win this year's award. During an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, he spoke about Lewandowski's credentials:
“I hope Robert Lewandowski can make it, but unfortunately for him, Poland don’t have the quality to win trophies. Leo Messi could be taken into account or, perhaps, an Italian."
It remains to be seen if Lewandowski will become the first Bayern player in more than three decades to win the Ballon d'Or award.
#1 Michael Owen (2001 Ballon d'Or winner)
Michael Owen remains the last English player to win the Ballon d'Or award. The former England and Liverpool forward won the coveted award in 2001.
The 42-year-old feels it would be an 'absolute crime' if Lewandowski doesn't win this year's Ballon d'Or award. Especially after missing out on the award last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said in this regard:
“I thought Lewandowski was so unfortunate not to win it in the COVID year when it was, it was obviously suspended or cancelled that year, and I would probably go with him. There are other candidates, don’t get me wrong, Mo Salah’s had a great season, although he’s not won anything. Jorginho, on the other hand, for Chelsea, [has] won everything."
Owen added:
"But I am not sure he’s potentially good enough to win it ahead of players like Lewandowski, and so I would probably go with him. He has won the Bundesliga again. His numbers are quite staggering. His goals in the last year. So I think I would go for Lewandowski. It would be an absolute crime if he went through his career without winning. He is a stunning player.”
It remains to be seen if Lewandowski's lack of titles with Poland will go against him when the 2021 Ballon d'Or winner gets announced on Monday.
