Should the Ballon d’Or be played?

The Ballon d’Or – once football’s highest individual award – has lost more and more credibility in recent years. No player shows this tape more clearly than Robert Lewandowski. The world-class Polish striker would have been eligible for the prestigious award several times, but questionable decisions by the jury denied him this glory. It is time to critically examine this reward scene and question its existence.

1. The Farce 2020

In 2020 there was no doubt: Lewandowski was the best player in the world. He led FC Bayern Munich to a historic sextuple, won the Champions League and was in a form that few players have achieved. But what did French Football do? The award was simply cancelled. Why? Because neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo had an outstanding season? This decision was nothing less than a slap in the face of the sport and a clear signal: the Ballon d’Or is no longer an award for performance, but a platform for popularity.

2. Inadequate choice for Messi and Ronaldo

It is clear that the Ballon d’Or has been systematically designed for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in recent years – regardless of the performance of other players. Of course, both are outstanding, but the fact that a player like Lewandowski came away empty-handed despite his constant leadership shows the one-sided view of the jury. How can you ignore Lewandowski’s record 41 Bundesliga goals in a season or his 15 goals in the Champions League? The answer is simple: the Ballon d’Or is a popular competition that depends on names rather than performance.

3. Award without sporting integrity

The way in which the Ballon d’Or is awarded is very flawed. Voting is done by journalists who don’t even have a deep knowledge of football. Many voters prefer names that are more present in the media or driven by marketing strategies. Lewandowski, who does not have the same media glare as Messi or Ronaldo, fails this system. The result: The award loses the integrity of sport and is only a PR tool.

4. Price that divides football

The Ballon d’Or is helping to push football towards toxicity. Instead of honoring a team effort, one player is singled out as if football were an individual sport. Robert Lewandowski is a prime example of a player who not only shines individually, but makes his teams better. Nevertheless, he passed. How long should we continue to be blinded by an award that only enhances superstitions and ignores the real workers of the game?

Appeal to the world of football: Boycott the Ballon d’Or

The farce that Robert Lewandowski had to reveal: The Ballon d’Or is outdated, unfair and no longer worthy of its original idea. It is time for players, clubs and fans to take a stand. The Ballon d’Or no longer deserves respect. We should boycott this award and demand its abolition. This is the only way we can ensure that football stands for what it should be again: performance, team spirit and fairness – and not a show for names and marketing.

Robert Lewandowski may not have won the Ballon d’Or, but in the eyes of many he has long been a champion. That alone says more than any golden award handed out by a corrupt jury.