‘If they don’t cancel it’


Friday, October 14, 2022 at 1:58 PM• Mart Oude Nijeweeme • Last update: 14:35

If it’s up to Robert Lewandowski, this year’s Ballon d’Or will go to Karim Benzema. At least, if the election goes ahead. Two years ago, the Polish striker from Barcelona seemed to be taking the prize himself, until it was decided to end the event due to the corona pandemic. Lewandowski still seems hurt by the fact that he missed the Golden Ball by a hair’s breadth.

Lewandowski doesn’t seem to stop with his scoring drive for the time being. The Pole also manages to find the net frequently at his new club Barcelona. Last Wednesday, he single-handedly helped his team to a point with two late goals in the Champions League match against Internazionale (3-3). However, there is no doubt about the winner of the Golden Ball, according to Lewandowski. “The Ballon d’Or will probably be won by Benzema. If they don’t cancel it…”, the striker jokes.

This weekend, Lewandowski will once again have an excellent opportunity to showcase his qualities, when the Clásico is on the program in LaLiga. Real Madrid is one of the attack leader’s favorite opponents. In April 2013, the Polish international scored four goals in the first leg of the semi-finals in the Champions League. “To score four goals in the semi-finals of the Champions League has to be one of the best matches of my life, if not one of the best in Champions League history,” said the attacker.

According to Lewandowski, the result against Inter means nothing for the squatter against Real Madrid. “After a bad game, it’s good to identify and analyze the pain points. We have to show that we can play good football and are able to win. The game doesn’t come at the best time, but we know that we are in the Clásico have the chance to win. Given the history and everything that happens around it, it is one of the games of the year. We have the chance to turn our backs, that will be a nice challenge.”