Bayern Munich chairman, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, has berated the decision of Balloon d’Or award organisers to cancel the 2020 edition on the grounds of covid-19, saying Robert Lewandowski might have been denied the top honour.
The Bayern chief believes that his club’s Polish goal poacher, Lewandowski, is an outstanding prospect to win his first Ballon d’Or following his great 2019/2020 showing, domestically and in the continent.
Lewandowski scorched a red trail in Germany, scoring 51 goals to help Bayern win the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal. He is also the leading scorer in the ongoing UEFA Champions League with 11 goals ahead of his clubs Round of 16 second leg clash against Chelsea billed for Munich on August 8.
However, as Lewandowski shone on all fronts, looking good to emulate Luka Modric (2018) to disrupt Lionel Messi and Cristiano Rinaldo’s monopoly of the Balloon d’Or, the organisers, France Football, officially announced last week that the award for 2020 won’t be given out on the grounds of insufficient fair conditions occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic.
Barcelona and Croatia star Modric popped up in 2018 to break a long monopoly of the award by Messi and Ronaldo since 2008. While Messi, the current holder, has won it six times, Ronaldo is five-time winner.
“I believe Robert Lewandowski is playing a fantastic season and he performed maybe the best season in his career,” Rummenigge said during a press conference on Monday.
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“Unfortunately, France Football cancelled the Ballon d’Or, which we are not very happy about. In the end, it’s not very fair, not just
for Bayern, but also for Robert Lewandowski, who might have won.
He added: “I believe it’s very important that in a season that, except the French league, [were] performed through to the end of the season, it has to be possible to give the Ballon d’Or to the best footballer in the world.
“Of course, I believe, in those circumstances, Robert would have a good chance to win it for the first time in his career.”
4 Comments
Yes it is because their man Messi did not do well that’s the simple reason for the cancellation.
You are right @Kenny.Fifa are so obsessed with the one who can’t go wrong Messi!I am sure if Messi is in the position of getting crowned it definitely won’t be cancelled.
The very year Modric won the ballon d’Or same year Ronaldo did so well,i bet if it were Messi up against Modric,definitely the award would go to Messi.Last season Vigil Van Dike should have won it not Messi!even there were reports of votes manipulation favouring Messi.
It’s all politics in FIFA.
2010 should have gone to Wesley Sneijder or to Spainish nation players instead their Messi got it. The do not like C Ronaldo
Many leagues where cancled and players like neyma and mbappe who are also strong contenders didnt complete the season due to the recent global pandemic. Its reasonable to cancle the award to avoid arguments of injustification. I think fifa award should be return to its old fomula where experts closely accertain the players nominated and the award are giving based on facts and figures. This present political stile of votes from team captains and coached etc will only give rooms to racism trabalism and emotional sentiments to influence the results.