In 2020, there was little argument that Robert Lewandowski was the best footballer in the world. After finding the net time and again, he secured his first Champions League crown and inspired Bayern Munich to a memorable treble.

Given his extraordinary season, he appeared to be a clear favourite for the Ballon d'Or. However, the global COVID-19 pandemic led to the controversial decision to cancel the award for that year.

A year later, the coveted prize went to Lionel Messi. During his acceptance speech, the legendary Barcelona star admitted that Lewandowski deserved recognition for his 2020 campaign, while urging organisers, France Football, to retrospectively award the Pole his Ballon d'Or. Surprisingly, though, Lewandowski was not entirely pleased with the comments.

Messi Claimed Lewandowski Deserved 2020 Ballon d'Or

As quoted in the Daily Mail, when Messi took to the stage to collect the 2021 Ballon d'Or, he insisted that Lewandowski deserved the prize in the past. In full, he said:

For all the praise contained in Messi's speech, Lewandowski was clearly frustrated by the remarks. The Polish striker went so far as to question their sincerity, describing them as 'empty words':

"I would like it [Messi's 2020 Ballon d'Or statement] to be a sincere and courteous statement from a great player and not just an empty words."

Lewandowski Reflected on Ballon d'Or Disappointment

Lewandowski, now playing MLS football alongside the Argentine, clearly believed that Messi's comments would only truly matter if they resulted in him receiving the award. That never happened, however, meaning the Polish international looks set to finish his career without football's most prestigious individual honour.

Reflecting on the disappointment, he told the press: "I felt sadness. I can't deny it. I can't say I was happy, on the contrary. I have a feeling of sadness.

"To be so close, to compete with Messi, of course I respect how he plays and what he has achieved. The mere fact that I was able to compete with him shows me the level that I was able to reach."

There is little doubt that Lewandowski enjoyed an outstanding 2019/20 campaign. Across 47 appearances for Bayern Munich, he scored 55 goals and provided 10 assists, one of the highest single-season goal tallies since 2000. His remarkable form helped the club secure the Champions League, Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal.

His frustration only grew the following season, when he registered 48 goals and nine assists across 40 games. Bayern won the league as well as the UEFA and German Super Cups, yet that impressive campaign still wasn't enough for him to win the 2021 Ballon d'Or.

Instead, the award once again went to the aforementioned Messi, one of the greatest football players of all time. It can be argued that the then-Barcelona forward did not produce a stronger season than Lewandowski either – he lifted only the Copa del Rey, while scoring 38 goals and picking up 14 assists in 47 games for his club.

Messi and Lewandowski would both head to MLS later on in their careers, with the former joining Inter Miami and the latter playing for Chicago Fire. The Poland legend appears to have forgiven the Argentine as well, as he insisted it was a bit of a misunderstanding, remarking in 2025, "Maybe I expressed myself badly."

This was not the first occasion when a Bayern Munich player felt they had been unfairly overlooked for the Ballon d'Or. In 2013, after also helping his side complete a treble, Franck Ribery appeared to be in a strong position to win the award, only for it to go to Cristiano Ronaldo, who had not won any club trophies that year.

The Frenchman would later claim 'that it was a political choice' to hand the award to the Real Madrid icon rather than him. Lewandowski can at least take comfort from the fact that he is not the only Bayern legend to have walked away feeling frustrated by the voting process.