Robert Lewandowski delivered one of the greatest individual seasons in modern football, but he never received the Ballon dOr for his achievements in 2020. Six years later, the debate over whether the decision should be revisited remains alive.

Photo credit: FC Bayern München

Source: https://fcbayern.com/en/news/2020/01/ten-impressive-lewandowski-facts

During the 2019/20 season, Lewandowski scored 55 goals in 47 appearances for Bayern Munich, helping the German giants win the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and UEFA Champions League.

He also finished as the leading scorer in all three competitions, establishing himself as one of the most influential players in European football that season.

His performances earned him the UEFA Men's Player of the Year and FIFA The Best Men's Player awards.

However, the Ballon dOr ceremony was cancelled in 2020 by France Football because of the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving Lewandowski without an opportunity to compete for the award that year.

Speaking to the BBC in 2025, the Polish striker said he still did not understand why the award had been cancelled.

Bayern's Champions League campaign further strengthened his case. The club won every match in the competition that season, culminating in a 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the final in Lisbon.

Lewandowski continued his remarkable form the following season, scoring 41 goals in the Bundesliga to break Gerd Müller's long-standing record for goals in a single German top-flight season.

Messi said Lewandowski deserved recognition for 2020 when he accepted the 2021 award.

Photo: Afrique Sports

Source: https://www.afriquesports.net/ballon-dor/ballon-dor-2026-tout-change

Although no one can establish with certainty who would have won the 2020 vote, Lewandowski's achievements have continued to fuel arguments that he deserved the opportunity to compete for football's most prestigious individual honour.

The question now is whether France Football should consider an honorary award to recognize the achievement, or whether the cancellation should remain part of the award's history.

For many football fans, Lewandowski's 2019/20 campaign remains a reminder that even an extraordinary season does not always receive the recognition its supporters believe it deserves.

Source: BBC Sport

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cvgn3n5g844o