Robert Lewandowski will have more reason to be upset than anyone at Lionel Messis seventh Ballon dOr triumph. However, Ronaldo and Messis dominance is over. Quite simply, he has not stopped finding the back of the netsince the start of the year, continuing what's now a years-long, nonstopscoring spree. 2023 Ballon d'Or odds: Lewandowski 4th - Football | Tribuna.com Was it the individual stats without the context? Not bad for a player rejected by Legia Warsaw as a teenager! He can head the ball, finish and hold it up. The last defender to win was Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro in 2006 after lifting the World Cup. The Portugal star has also recorded six second-place finishes as well as coming third once. Barcelona [4] - 1 Viktoria Plze - Robert Lewandowski hat-trick 67' He followed that up with winners medals in the DFL Supercup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup for an unprecedented 2020. Xavi - Messi Ballon d'Or win is 'football justice', BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool at American Express Community Stadium on March 12, 2022 in Brighton, United King. Last year, everyone was in agreement to say that you were the big winner of this award.. Robert Lewandowski May Receive A Ballon d'Or Prize After All From However, he was heavily tipped to win the Ballon d'Or in 2020, but the ceremony was called off due to the Covid-19 pandemic and a winner was never named. Lewandowski turns 34 next year, but 2022 is also a World Cup year. He is the most professional player I have ever met, said Pep Guardiola of Lewandowski.