Robert Lewandowski May Receive A Ballon d'Or Prize After All From Former Winner

A former Ballon d'Or winner said he would hand over his prize to Robert Lewandowski if the Bayern Munich forward didn't pick up the gong during Monday night's ceremony in Paris.

Luis Suarez Miramontes, who is regarded as one the all-time great Spanish players, played for Deportivo, Inter Milan and Barcelona during a trophy-laden 16-year career.

He spent six years with the Catalan giants and during that spell, he became the first Spanish player to win the Ballon d'Or when he was awarded France Football's prestigious prize in 1960.

It's fair to say Miramontes knows a thing or two about the game, so when discussing the 2021 Ballon d'Or event in an interview with Carrusel Deportivo earlier this month, he made a big pledge.

The 86-year-old said: "Give the Ballon d'Or to Lewandowski, damn it! Otherwise, I'll give him mine."

Lewandowski, who picked up the FIFA Men's Best Player Award before the Ballon d'Or was scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic, played a huge part in Bayern Munich's treble-winning triumph in 2020, scoring 56 goals in 50 games for club and country.

In that season, he beat the likes of Timo Werner and Jadon Sancho in the scoring charts, and was named the Bundesliga's Player of the Season, with a total of 42.6 per cent
 of his fellow players labelling him the best in the league.

Poland's record goalscorer has continued that ruthless streak in front of goal in 2021 but it still wasn't enough as Lionel Messi secured his seventh Ballon d'Or on Monday night.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward paid tribute to Lewandowski during his speech. "I'd like to mention Robert, it's been a real honour to compete with him," Messi said on stage. "I think France Football should award you your 2020 Ballon d'Or, you deserved it."

After the ceremony, Lewandowski congratulated the Argentine for winning the award.

Former Bayern Munich and Germany midfielder Lothar Matthäus has since questioned the decision to award Messi with the Ballon d'Or.

"Honestly, I don't understand anything anymore," he told Sky Sports Germany. "With all due respect to Messi and the other great players named, none deserved it as much as Lewandowski."

Featured Image Credit: Twitter

Topics: Football, Robert Lewandowski, Luis Suarez, Ballon d'Or

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is a writer at SPORTbible. He's interviewed some of the biggest names in sport, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pele, Carles Puyol and Tim Henman. He dabbles in all things sport but football is his biggest passion. He was once hit in the head by a wayward strike from Nicky Butt and lived to tell the tale.

@jackkenmare_