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Robert Lewandowski has hinted that he is angry with Argentine superstar Lionel Messi over his voting for the Ballon d’Or and the FIFA Best awards. Messi won the former title in November, his record seventh Ballon d’Or, with Lewandowski finishing as runner-up.
That caused some controversy, with the Polish striker having broken Gerd Muller’s Bundesliga goalscoring record for a season and won the European Golden Shoe.
But he had to settle for second place and the Ballon d’Or Striker of the Year award, with Messi scooping his record-breaking title.
Messi admitted that Lewandowski deserved to be given a Ballon d’Or following his stunning campaign for Bayern Munich.
“You deserve your Ballon d'Or. Last year everyone agreed that you were the winner,” he said in his acceptance speech.
“Hopefully France Football can give it to you to have in your home, because you were the true winner if it weren't for the pandemic. You should have one in your house too.”
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Messi won a record-breaking seventh Ballon d'Or in 2021 (Image: Getty Images)
“I voted for [Messi] because I appreciate what he’s done,” he told Polish magazine Pilka Noza, via Get French Football News.
“Messi said he would vote for me for the Ballon d’Or, but he didn’t vote for me for The Best. That’s his decision. But anyway, I won the prize, so it’s easier for me to accept it.”
Despite Messi’s broken promise, Lewandowski won by four ranking points, with this being his second successive Best award.
And he insisted that it is the title he holds more dearly than had he beaten Messi to the Ballon d’Or, as result of the voters.
Lewandowski did win The Best FIFA Men's Player Award (Image: Getty Images)
“Lately, I’ve been thinking about these two awards, FIFA’s The Best and the Ballon d’Or, and I’ve come to the conclusion that the FIFA award matters more,” he added.
“Only journalists vote for the Ballon d’Or… I’m happy that the professionals vote for The Best.
“The team captains and the coaches, they can assess our performance in a realistic and objective way, because they know how much each game, each record and each injury costs us.”
Lewandowski has continued to star for Bayern this season, scoring 28 goals already in all competitions to send them storming to the top of the Bundesliga.