If some choices are the subject of an almost unanimous consensus, that of awarding the 2021 Ballon d’Or to Lionel Messi, Monday, November 29 in Paris, has at least divided the footballing class. Some of the most renowned players or coaches have thus stepped up to the plate. If no one questions the Argentinian’s talent, many believe that other players would have deserved the trophy more this year. And in particular Robert Lewandowski.
Imagine winning all this but not the Ballon d’Or pic.twitter.com/DSeFRjD4OW
– ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 29, 2021
The Pole scored 53 goals with Bayern in 2021, helped the Bavarian club win a ninth Bundesliga title in a row and in the process broke the legendary record of goals in a season held until then by the late Gerd Müller (41).
“Honestly, I don’t understand a thing anymore”, fulminated Lothar Matthäus, winner of the Ballon d’Or in 1990, in the columns of Mundo Deportivo. “With all due respect to Messi and the other great named players, none had deserved it as much as Lewandowski. Admittedly, Messi won the Copa América with Argentina, but in Paris he is transparent. “
Toni Kroos followed suit by telling the Spanish site Record. “It is absolutely undeserved for Messi ‘. And the midfielder added to add: “There is no doubt that Lionel and Cristiano (Ronaldo) were the players of the decade but this year they were clearly better than them.”
Same story with his ex-teammate at Real, Iker Cassillas. “It is extremely difficult for me to give credit to this Trophy”, recognizes the Spanish porter. “Messi is one of the greatest but it’s still not difficult to know who is the best player at the end of a past season. And, this time, it was not him.”
Cada vez me cuesta más create en esto de los premios del fútbol. Para mi, Messi, es uno de los 5 mejores jugadores de toda la historia pero hay que empezar a saber catalogar quiénes son los más destacados al cabo de una temporada. No es tan difícil puñeta! Lo hacen difícil otros! ♂️
– Iker Casillas (@IkerCasillas) November 30, 2021
The case of Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah, ranked 7th on the list, also challenged. For many, the Egyptian would have deserved to appear much higher in the ranking. This is what his coach in Liverpool, Jürgen Klopp, thinks, who took the opportunity to castigate journalists at a press conference: “The Golden Ball is nominated by journalists so it’s your fault that Mohamed is so low in the rankings”, he got carried away. And to add, to the British journalists present: “It was your role to convince your colleagues”.
Everyone is rightly talking about Lewandowski being robbed, but its a disgrace that Salah was in 7th:
• Easily the best player in the best league in the world
• 11 goals and 8 assists in 13 appearances this season
• 22 goals in a struggling Liverpool team last season pic.twitter.com/DLEAAnVsSt– SPORTbible (@sportbible) November 29, 2021