Rio Ferdinand and Peter Crouch agree that six-time winner Lionel Messi is not the most-deserving recipient of the 2021 Ballon d'Or.

The two pundits insisted the coveted award must go to Robert Lewandowski after the Bayern Munich superstar reaffirmed his credentials with a hat-trick against Benfica on Tuesday night.

Lewandowski is the odds-on favourite to win the Ballon d'Or for the first time during a ceremony in Paris at the end of November.

The prolific Pole has been the best out-and-out striker in Europe in recent seasons and his scoring numbers make for astonishing reading.

Lewandowski has plundered 22 goals in 16 games this season, scoring three as Bayern maintained their 100 per cent record in the Champions League with a 5-2 victory over Benfica.

The 33-year-old nodded in Kinglsey Coman 's cross to open the scoring and made amends for a subsequent penalty miss with two dinked finishes to complete his hat-trick in the second half.

Lewandowski's latest heroics left former Liverpool striker Crouch and ex-Manchester United defender Ferdinand in no doubt he deserves the 2021 Ballon d'Or ahead of rivals Messi, Mohamed Salah, Jorginho and Cristiano Ronaldo.

"I can't argue with Lionel Messi, can I? Let's be honest. But I just think if Robert Lewandowski doesn't win a Ballon d'Or in his lifetime, I think it would be a travesty," Crouch told BT Sport .

"And I think this year, with the amount of goals he's scored... he's got 22 goals now and it's October - I didn't get 22 goals in May!

"This is a special, special player. Ronaldo and Messi have always been the benchmark, always, but Robert Lewandowski, it's his time to potentially win it this year."

Ferdinand added: "In the calendar year, by the way, in the 38 games he's played he's got 50 goals. No one is near that. This is today in the game, the goals are ridiculous, he scores every type of goal - that's what I love about him.

"He's got your No.9 goals where you're at the back post heading balls in like that, he's got deft touches."

Crouch chimed in to describe Lewandowski as a "genius" before Ferdinand reminded viewers of his strong claim for the 2020 Ballon d'Or prior to the ceremony's cancellation.

"He's an unbelievable centre-forward," said Crouch. "For me, playing that position, you marvel in it. He's the only one left on that list - Lionel Messi doesn't play there, Jorginho [is a midfielder]. A proper No.9 I'd called him, and a genius."

Ferdinand added: "He should have won it last year. Remember, they didn't give him the Ballon d'Or because of Covid but he should have won it."

Source: https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/ferdinand-lionel-messi-ballon-dor-25366032

Lewandoski should be the clear favourite for the 2021 Ballon d'Or judging by his individual & team performance so far.

The prolific Pole has been the best out-and-out striker in Europe in recent seasons and his scoring numbers make for astonishing reading.

Lewandowski has plundered 22 goals in 16 games this season, scoring three as Bayern maintained their 100 per cent record in the Champions League with a 5-2 victory over Benfica.

With all this, they won't give Lewandoski, Even when it obvious that Messi don't deserve it.

If Mordic won ballon award and Ronaldo was far better then him individually that season, I see no reason why Lewandoski will not be given.

For me ooo, this ballon award sh*t is just nonsense. Can you imagine with all the football that Xavi and Iniesta played, nothing like ballon award for them.

Na lewa

Ofcourse lewandowski deserve it

I share their view in its entirety. I may not know who will win but I know for sure that Messi is the least deserving of it.

The sponsors must not demean the award any further by giving it to him .

Nuff said

What if he wins it the seventh time.

Like for Messi

7th d'or loading

Too many people go too cry if Messi ends up winning it Sha. But Las Las pain doesn't kill. In a few weeks time they'll get over with it

Tell them o.


He wasn't the highest goalscorer - that's Lewandowski.
He wasn't the highest assists - that was Muller
He didn't win his league.
He didn't win the Champions league. As a matter of fact, he was disgraced out of the UCL by a small Mbappe.
All he has is a useless Copa Del Rey & a Copa America.


Verratti, Bonucci, Chiellini, Chiesa & co all won the Copa Italia & Euros (same as Messi's trophies), oya give them the Ballon D'Or na.


Nonsense.

Messi no fit win am.



Like for Lewandowski, Share for Messi (ekuke)

Why is everyone jxt skeptical of Messi winning it?

The hate is just too much...
Messi will win it again and you all will cry blood...
Rvbbish...
If Messi doesn't win this year's balon D'or, then it's a complete fraud, someone that did so well individually even with a dead team like Barcelona...
Lewy did great but not near Messi...
The only thing Lewandowski has more than Messi last year was goals and u can't use that to determine a winner, after all Ronaldo had more goals than modric and modric was crowned Balon d'or winner...

Personal opinion...

Midget should not be in top 5.like if you think Lewandowski really deserve it this year share if you think fifa will rig it for lord eiber

Let them do whatever they want, the ballon do'or is useless IMHO, imagine great ballers like Iniesta being passed up for years

I no even know why messi no dey do goal poacher work if messi ignore playmaking begin dey do tapins him go dey go 100 goal per year ...even him know,the guy just too humble

Jealousy wan finish these ones.

Messi was hardly mentioned in the article so I think the headline is quite misleading.

But Lewandoski is clear favourite for the award. Poland didn't do much of note (understandably so) and Bayern may have stuttered a little as a team last season; but they still hauled in 4 trophies, one or two of them being major trophies, and Lewandoski had been on an astounding run of various goal scoring feats over the last two years, powering his team to these achievements. And he's still on form as the competition runs on.

His closest competitor, Messi, finally overcome the senior international hurdle, and had an amazing run last season too, but couldn't achieve much with his club side, as they ended the season with just a trophy (domestic cup). And since his switch to an easier league, which was expected to boost his Ballon d'Or chances, he's been quite inconspicuous, unlike his usual standards, since August.

So, I think it's a clear hit for Lewy

Ok

Raalsalghul:


Source: https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/ferdinand-lionel-messi-ballon-dor-25366032

the polls are closed, the leaked results of the Ballon D’or shows Lewandoski as the winner they should not do wayo this time around

Lewandoski should be given 2 Ballon D'Or awards ( including that for last year)... Meaning he should finish this year with 2 awards in his possession.

Anything other than this will be the biggest football robbery of the 21st Century.

Maybe they think we have forgotten the Wesley Sneijder goof/snub of years past!!!

U call those trophies useless??
I guess u are more than useless eleribuuu

DoggoneDogg:
Tell them o.


He wasn't the highest goalscorer - that's Lewandowski.
He wasn't the highest assists - that was Muller
He didn't win his league.
He didn't win the Champions league. As a matter of fact, he was disgraced out of the UCL by a small Mbappe.
All he has is a useless Copa Del Rey & a Copa America.


Verratti, Bonucci, Chiellini, Chiesa & co all won the Copa Italia & Euros (same as Messi's trophies), oya give them the Ballon D'Or na.


Nonsense.

Bigchristo:
the polls are closed, the leaked results of the Ballon D’or shows Lewandoski as the winner they should not do wayo this time around

It won't be the first time... Football chiefs are more corrupt and crooked than Nigerian government.

Their palaba. If Messi wins it, nothing will happen. It is a vote