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6 months ago
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Barcelona star Robert Lewandowski has named the leading contenders for the Ballon d'Or, amid rumours he could belatedly be awarded the 2020 prize.
Lewandowski was viewed as the clear favourite in 2020, only for organisers to cancel the award due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Poland superstar finished as the runner-up the following year to Lionel Messi.
Lewandowski was asked by Sport Bild for his views on the best players in the world currently, with the forward naming Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham as one of the leading candidates for this year's prize.
Bellingham has enjoyed a stunning debut season in Madrid, scoring 21 goals and providing 10 assists in all competitions.
Robert Lewandowski has revealed who he believes are the two best players in the world
Lewandowski named Jude Bellingham after his stunning debut season at Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappe was also named by Lewandowski despite the star ending Barcelona's Champions League campaign
Lewandowski also put forward PSG forward Kylian Mbappe, who played a key role in eliminating the Catalans from this season's Champions League and is expected to join Real Madrid this summer.
'It’s difficult to say because we still have the European Championship and the last, decisive games in the Champions League ahead of us,' Lewandowski said.
'But at the moment Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham are the outstanding players in the world for me.'
Lewandowski also addressed rumours he could retrospectively be awarded the 2020 Ballon d'Or.
He had scored 55 goals in 47 matches during the 2019-20 season, as Bayern Munich completed a stunning Treble.
The German giants won the Champions League, Bundesliga and DFB Pokal, before winning the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup in the second half of 2020.
Lewandowski admitted he believed he could have been awarded the Ballon d'Or in either 2020 or 2021, adding he would be happy to receive the former should it be retrospectively awarded.
'Of course I would have liked to receive the Ballon d'Or award one day,' Lewandowski said.
Lewandowski was the top scorer in the 2019-20 Champions League as Bayern Munich claimed the trophy
Messi was named as the winner of the 2021 Ballon d'Or with Lewandowski the runner-up
Lewandowski, however, won the Best FIFA Men's Player award in both 2020 and 2021
'It's not that I'm mad or sad that this trophy is still missing, but my feeling is that it would have been my turn in either year.
'The one from 2021 belongs to Lionel Messi. I noticed that there are rumors about a retrospective award for 2020.
'This year was outstanding for me, I was at my highest level, we won everything.
'Let’s put it this way: If I were to receive the 2020 Ballon d’Or four years later, I certainly wouldn’t act offended – it would be a great honour and I would accept the award.'
Lewandowski had been named as the winner of the Best FIFA Men's Player award in both 2020 and 2021.
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