PSG – Malaise: Lewandowski, Benzema … Lionel Messi is sharply tackled after his Ballon d’Or! – The 10 Sport

Posted on November 30, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. by Bernard Colas updated on November 30, 2021 at 2:52 p.m.

This Monday evening, Lionel Messi won the 7th Ballon d’Or of his career, beating Robert Lewandowski, Jorginho and Karim Benzema in the standings. A result far from unanimous.

It is a coronation that leaves no one indifferent. For the seventh time in his career, Lionel Messi won the Ballon d’Or at the end of a special year, marked by his transfer to PSG and his victory at the Copa America, his first trophy with the Albiceleste. With 613 points, the 34-year-old star is ahead Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich – 580 points), Jorginho (Chelsea – 460 points) and Karim Benzema (239 points), which is far from unanimous in the world of football. The Italian midfielder is coming out of a remarkable year collectively, having won the Champions League with the Blues and the Euro with the Squadra Azzurra, while Lewandowski displays impressive statistics with 64 goals scored and 12 assists delivered in 53 matches in all competitions with the Bayern Munich and the Polish selection. A good player, the 33-year-old striker congratulated the now seven-time Ballon d’Or after the verdict, while thanking the journalists who voted for him. But others took it upon themselves to castigate the victory of Messi.

“The Ballon d’Or 2021 does not belong to Lionel Messi”

In Germany, the press went wild the day after the Ballon d’Or ceremony, shouting “ scandal As the title Bild. Several big names in football also took the floor to come to the rescue of Robert Lewandowski, victim of an injustice according to them. “ Honestly, I don’t understand any more. With all due respect to Messi and the other great named players, none deserved it as much as Lewandowski, has explained Lothar Matthaüs, winner in 1990, on Sky Germany. It is unrivaled over the past two years. But even if you only take into account 2021, it is better than the rest. He broke Gerd Müller’s record of the century, again tops the list of top scorers in all competitions and has overtaken everyone nationally and internationally this year as well., he added in comments relayed by RMC, Messi may have won the Copa America with Argentina, but he’s completely pale in Paris. »For his part, the chairman of the Bavarian board Oliver Kahn estimated in comments relayed by Eurosport than ” Lewandowski would have deserved the Ballon d’Or just as much as his top scorer trophy, because he has been performing absolutely at the highest level for years. (…) Even without the Ballon d’Or, Lewy has long since arrived on the Olympus of football greats. He will still be a candidate (for the Ballon d’Or) in the years to come. ” Pini Zahavi was more severe by explaining that the Ballon d’Or 2021 ” does not belong ” To Lionel Messi. ” Not this time, protests the agent of Lewandowski To TZ. The Ballon d’Or belongs to Robert Lewandowski. He wasn’t stolen, but he’s the man who deserves it. It is therefore not surprising that several hundred million fans find it difficult to believe the result of this prestigious football event. Monday should have ended with the celebration of Robert’s first Ballon d’Or. ”

“Not to give it to Lewandowski, it’s an absolute shame”

The victory of Lionel Messi is also reacting in Spain. If Catalonia relishes the success of its former protégé, Madrid does not hesitate to criticize the decision of the voters. Toni Kroos, middle of Real, considers for his part that Karim Benzema had to win the Grail. ” Why did Benzema not win the Golden Ball? What is wrong with this election is above all the first place. Leo doesn’t deserve it. There is no doubt that he was Player of the Decade with Cristiano, but this year there should have been other players ahead of him. », Assures the German. ” It’s harder and harder for me to believe in rewards in football, for his part denounced the former porter of the Real Madrid Iker Casillas on social networks. For me, Messi is one of the five best players in history. But you have to start knowing how to catalog who is the most remarkable after a season. It’s not that hard! Others make it hard! »Asked by le10sport.com, Rolland Courbis don’t hide either his anger at not having seen Robert Lewandowski raise the Ballon d’Or on the stage of the Théâtre du Châtelet: “ It was absolutely forbidden not to give it to Robert Lewandowski. And I weigh my words: forbidden. Quite simply because last year, because of Covid, he was already deprived of this award, when he deserved it. He continued to perform as well with his club Bayern Munich. And while you have the opportunity to fix what has been an unfortunate absence, you steal it a second time! Let it be understood, it is not giving the Ballon d’Or to Messi that I am contesting, it is not giving it to Lewandowski! It is an absolute disgrace. The Ballon d’Or is officially the dumbest and most unfair trophy on the planet “. Robert Lewandowski thus has invaluable support, and even that of Lionel Messi, acknowledging after the ceremony that the Pole deserved the trophy in 2020 and now appears as his worthy successor to the Ballon d’Or prize list. ” I want to tell Robert (Lewandowski) that it is an honor to fight by your side. You deserved your Ballon d’Or last year. Everyone agreed. I hope we will give it to you and have it at home, because you deserve it “, He explained, before adding a little later:” I think he (Robert Lewandowski) had a great year. He surpasses himself year after year. He shows all the class he has, the ease he has to score goals. He had the award for top scorer. I think he can claim (for the Golden Ball) next year, with his form, his ability to do even better. And he belongs to a very big club. “