Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? Robert Lewandowski made bold comments when asked to pick between the GOATs

Robert Lewandowski once named himself ahead of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The Argentinian and the Portuguese have dominated the GOAT debate ever since they broke onto the scene close to two decades ago.

The two of them have dominated the Ballon d’Or awards as well, winning 13 of the last 15 awards. Robert Lewandowski was among the favorites for the award in 2020 before it was canceled and lost out to Lionel Messi the following year.

Speaking at Dubai Expo in 2021, the Pole had insisted that he was satisfied with his efforts that year, even though he failed to win the Ballon d’Or.

“I choose Lewandowski. I've had so many questions about the Ballon d'Or. Last year they cancelled it, I couldn't go, I won everything I could win. This year I scored 69 goals in one season so you know…I did everything that I could do, because in the Champions League against PSG I was injured, I couldn't play,” said Lewandowski.

He continued:

“But with my performance, with myself, if I stand in front of the mirror I can say to myself ‘you did everything that you can, you scored 69 goals, you won the German league and you can be proud of yourself’. I respect other players because they are great players but I know that for me it's important to be myself and think always positively.”

Neither Lewandowski nor Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo have made it to the shortlist for this year's Ballon d'Or.

Can anyone break Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's Ballon d'Or record?

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi

It is hard to imagine anyone replicating Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's success on the world stage. The Portuguese has won the Ballon d'Or five times, while his archrival has achieved the feat a record eight times.

Cristiano Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017. The diminutive Argentinean, meanwhile, won the prized trophy for four straight years from 2009 to 2012. He won it again in 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023.

The two superstars' absence from this year's shortlist signifies the end of an era. Vinicius Junior is expected to lift the 2024 Ballon d'Or next week, but one must also keep an eye out for Lamine Yamal, who has been creating waves with Barcelona. Already named as Messi's heir at Camp Nou, the 17-year-old has all the ingredients to dominate the Ballon d'Or awards in the future.