Robert Lewandowski was ranked second in the race for the 2021 Golden Ball, with Messi winning that award.

The Polish striker has revealed the disappointment that he did not come out first. Lewandowski meanwhile won the award for best striker of the year.

In the 2020/21 season, Lewandowski scored 48 goals and nine assists in 40 games in all competitions, while Bayern won the Bundesliga, the German Super Cup, the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup.

Meanwhile, during the current 2021/22 season, the Bayern Munich striker has scored 16 goals in 14 matches.

“I’m disappointed, I can not deny it. I can not say that I was happy. I have a feeling of disappointment. Being so close, competing with Messi, of course I respect how he plays and what he has achieved. Just the fact that I was able to compete with him shows the level I was able to reach,” Lewandowski told Polish media Kanale Sportowym.

The Polish striker also said: “I’m not enthusiastic about receiving the 2020 award. I want his (Messi’s statement for the 2020 Ballon d’Or) to be honest from a great player and not just empty words,” Lewandowski concluded.