Tuesday, 7 December 2021 at 15:59• Rian Rosendaal

The disappointment at Robert Lewandowski after some statements by Lionel Messi turns out to be not too bad. The Argentine Paris Saint-Germain attacker said last week after taking the Ballon d’Or for the seventh time that the Bayern Munich attacker should still be awarded the trophy for 2020, something that didn’t seem to sit well with Lewandowski. However, the Polish top scorer now emphasizes that he sees no harm in Messi’s words.

Messi suggested in his victory speech that the 2020 Ballon d’Or should be awarded retroactively to Lewandowski. The prize was not awarded last year due to the corona pandemic. “It is an honor to fight against Lewandowski,” said Messi. “You were the winner of the Ballon d’Or last year and France Football should give you that award. You were just a winner, and you should also have the prize.”

Lewandowski: ‘I especially wish Messi’s words were sincere’

The Polish star player seemed to be disappointed in Lionel Messi before.Read article

“I don’t really get excited about that idea,” Lewandowski reacted Monday to the Polish medium Sportowym at the suggestion of Messi. “I especially wish Messi’s words were sincere and polite, from a great player. And that these were not empty words.” Lewandowski did take home the Striker of the Year title after the Ballon d’Or gala, an award that was suddenly introduced this year.

However, Lewandowski is now rushing to nuance his statements. “The statements I made to a Polish television channel are currently being interpreted in the wrong way,” the star player said on Tuesday in conversation with kicker. “I never wanted to say that Lionel Messi’s words were not serious or sincere. Just the opposite is true. I was just touched by Messi’s speech in Paris, I loved it. There he showed that according to him I should have received the Ballon d’Or 2020.”

“I just wanted to emphasize that I would love it if Messi’s words were followed,” Lewandowski continues with his explanation. “I have a lot of respect for Messi and my appreciation for him is beyond words. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him again on the Ballon d’Or 2021.” Lewandowski is currently preparing for Wednesday night’s final Champions League game against Barcelona. He currently stands on nine goals, as many as Sébastien Haller.