"At the time I didn't understand why" - Robert Lewandowski on not winning Ballon d'Or in 2020 due to COVID restrictions
Legendary striker Robert Lewandowski opened up on how he initially didn't understand why he didn't win the Ballon d'Or in 2020 due to COVID restrictions. Groupe Amaury, who owns Football France, the magazine that gives out the awards, decided to not host the awards that year due to the pandemic.
However, widespread opinion is such that Lewandowski should have won the award, given that he had scored 47 goals and bagged 15 assists in 44 matches in 2020. The Polish centre-forward also won five trophies with Bayern that year.
Now, in an interview with Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand on the latter's YouTube channel, Lewandowski opened up about being disappointed for not receiving the award. He also admitted to not understanding why the awards were not held that year in the heat of the moment.
"At the time I didn't understand why? I know how football works sometimes. If you have football, you have business, if you have business you have politics and money in the end of course," said Lewandowski in the interview (41:35).
Robert Lewandowski has not won the Ballon d'Or yet
Lewandowski has not won the Ballon d'Or yet. The Polish star, nonetheless, made the podium in 2021, finishing second behind Lionel Messi, who won his seventh Ballon d'Or that year.
Having moved to Barcelona from Bayern Munich in the 2022 summer transfer window, Lewandowski has scored 78 goals in 112 matches for the Blaugrana. He has been in excellent form this season as well, netting 14 times in 13 La Liga appearances. He has also bagged two assists this season.
The 36-year-old sustained a back injury during Barcelona's 1-0 win over Real Sociedad on November 11. He is expected to be back in action for Hansi Flick's side in the upcoming weekend, however.
The Blaugrana will be without their superstar forward Lamine Yamal for a second consecutive week. The Catalan giants will face Celta Vigo in LaLiga next on Saturday, November 23.