Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski has fired a brutal dig at the Ballon d'Or after naming his favourite for the 2022 award as Karim Benzema.
The ceremony for the latest award takes place on Monday in Paris with a number of contenders such as Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lewandowski himself having all been nominated. However, the Pole is not backing any of those aforementioned names to claim the award this time around.
Real Madrid striker Benzema is Lewandowski's favourite to be handed his first gong. The 34-year-old has enjoyed a sensational 12 months having spearheaded Los Blancos’ victorious campaigns in La Liga and the Champions League. Throughout the year, he has plundered 29 goals in all competitions for Real.
Ahead of the award ceremony itself, Lewandowski has fired a brutal dig at the organising body. Speaking to Vamos, he said: "The Ballon d'Or is likely to be won by Benzema... if they don't cancel it."
Of course, Lewandowski’s comments follow the controversial decision to cancel the 2020 Ballon d’Or with the Covid-19 pandemic having put paid to the award. Lewandowski was the outright favourite at the time having helped former club Bayern Munich to the Champions League title as part of an illustrious treble.
A number of prominent names within the footballing landscape were dismayed at the decision - none more so than Lionel Messi. The Argentine icon won the 2021 Ballon d’Or and during the ceremony claimed that Lewandowski should have been handed the 2020 award retrospectively.
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Speaking at the time, he said: "I'd like to mention Robert [Lewandowski], it's been a real honour to compete with him. Everyone knows and we agree that you were the winner last year.
"I think France Football should award you your 2020 Ballon d'Or, you deserved it.”
Lewandowski has changed clubs since being one of the front-runners for the 2020 award. He completed a big-money move to Spanish giants Barcelona in the summer transfer window and has enjoyed an extremely bright start to life at the Camp Nou.
He has 14 goals in just 12 games in all competitions for the Catalans but looks unlikely to be playing Champions League football after Christmas. Barcelona needed a win against Inter Milan in midweek to realistically keep their hopes of staying in the competition alive but could only secure a 3-3 draw - Lewandowski scoring two late goals including the equaliser.
Xavi’s men now need to win against Bayern Munich and hope Inter lose to Viktoria Plzen during the next matchweek to at least stay in the competition.
