Lewandowski Sends Message To Lionel Messi After Loosing Out On The 2021 Ballon d'Or Award

Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski was on Monday, beaten to the 2021 Ballon d'Or by winner Lionel Messi.

The Polish striker watched as PSG star Lionel Messi bagged his seventh award on the night after getting 613 points in the voting, with Lewandowski not far behind in second on 580 points.

Chelsea ’s Jorginho came in third with 460 points, ahead of Real Madrid's Karim Benzema in fourth, and his Blues team-mate, N’Golo Kante in fifth respectively.

Lewandowski was actually a strong favorite to win the award last year following his sensational form with Bayern Munich, but the award ceremony was cancelled for the first time in history due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He helped Bayern win all six trophies they competed for, and scored 41 goals in the Bundesliga last season in just 29 appearances to break Gerd Muller’s long-standing record of 40 goals.

Lewandowski don't seem to be slowing down, as he continued his outstanding form this season. He has already scored 64 goals in 54 matches for both club and country this year.

Despite been snubbed of the Ballon d'Or a second time, the 33-year-old who attended the 65th ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris with his wife Anna Lewandowska, was gracious in defeat as he paid tribute to Messi with a post via the photo-sharing platform Instagram.

“To start, I would like to congratulate Lionel Messi, Ballon d’Or Winner,” Lewandowski wrote.

“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 from the Polish National Team and from 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.

“Thank you.”

Messi won the award having guided Argentina to their first international trophy in 28 years by winning the Copa America.

He also scored 30 goals for Barcelona as the Catalan giants finished third in La Liga, and lifted the Copa Del Rey before moving to PSG in August.

Meanwhile, in other categories of the awards, Lewandowski received a consolation as the new best striker of the year, while Chelsea were crowned the best club of the year.

Barcelona and Spain midfielder Pedri won the Kopa Trophy, the award presented to the best-performing player under the age of 21.

The 19-year-old won the award ahead of England and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham, while Manchester United's Mason Greenwood was fifth and Arsenal's Bukayo Saka sixth.

Italian and PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma won the 2021 Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper of the year.

The 22-year-old garnered 594 points, it was the largest of margin of victory for any award in 2021 Ballon d'Or ceremony.

He won it with almost 190 points ahead of second placed Edouard Mendy of Chelsea who had 404 points, Jan Oblak in third with  155 points..

Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas took home the women's Ballon d'Or after winning a league, cup and Champions League treble with Barcelona.