…as Messi gushes with joy over 7th Ballon d’Or win
Robert Lewandowski has reacted after losing Monday night’s Ballon d’Or award to Lionel Messi, who has become the player with more Ballon d’Or awards than any other, winning his 7th in Paris, France.
While the Bayern Munich star congratulated Messi, both players expressed excitement at winning big at the 65th Ballon d’Or France Football award night.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports while Lewandowski won the best striker of the year award, Messi won the most prized individual football award during the Ballon d’Or award ceremony.
Reacting, Lewandowski said: “To start, I would like to congratulate Lionel Messi Ballon d’Or Winner. I want to thank every single journalist who voted for me, and believed that my achievements were important in 2021.
“I won Striker Of The Year Award and no player can win an individual award without the strongest team and loyal fans behind him. And for me it’s no different. I want to thank my club Bayern Munich for the platform they’ve given me to succeed and to achieve my dreams.
“I want to thank my teammates in the Polish National Team and in Bayern Munich. I also want to thank my fans for supporting me every single day it means a lot to me.
“And the most important thing, huge thanks to my family. Thank you Mom, thank you Anna – you are the love of my life and my best friend, thanks to my sister Milena and to my friends and management team for the continuous support, the foundation of my achievements”.
On his part, Messi said: “Although I always put ahead the collective, I can not hide my joy for having been able to get another Ballon d’Or. I want to thank and dedicate to all my colleagues and staff of the @afaseleccion for such a nice year that we live. Also the ones I had in the @fcbarcelona and to those of del @psg.
“And of course to my family and friends, as well as to all the people who support me, who stand by me, take care of me and make me able to give up day to day: without all of them this would never have been possible. And thank you too a @francefootball by the gala and the award”.
Earlier, Messi had said Lewandowski should be retrospectively awarded the 2020 Ballon d’Or.
In his acceptance speech immediately after collecting the 2021 Ballon d’Or, Messi said: “I would like to mention Robert Lewandowski, it’s been a real honour to compete with you.
“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 deserve it and you should have it at home”.
He added: “I think Robert Lewandowski had a great year. Year after year, he improves and shows the excellent striker he is, as well as his ability to score goals.
“This year he was awarded as the top scorer. Of course he can certainly aspire to that level next year, thanks to his way of being on the pitch. And in addition, he plays for a big club”.
TNG reports the Poland international was denied the Ballon d’Or award in 2020 as the award did not hold due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.