In the 2019/20 season, Robert Lewandowski was the front man of a historic Bayern Munich team that lifted the sextuple. He was arguably the best player of that team, scoring 15 goals and providing 6 assists in just 9 Champions League games, and registering 55 goals and 10 assists across all competitions. This stands as one of the greatest seasons a striker has ever had in the history of the game.

This season was undoubtedly one of the finest ever produced by a striker and was fully deserving of the Ballon d’Or. Yet, due to the unforeseen circumstances of the COVID-19 lockdown, Lewandowski was denied recognition, not because of his performance, but because the 2020 Ballon d’Or ceremony was cancelled. This ceremony could easily have been held online or privately, as FIFA managed to do with ‘The Best’ awards. It is an absolute shame that after a season of such hard work and pure domination, Lewandowski could not receive the Golden Ball.

France Football has faced backlash not only from Bayern, Barcelona, and Polish fans, but also from football lovers across the globe, for cancelling an award that was so clearly deserved.

Football fans worldwide agree that the 2020 Ballon d’Or should have been unanimously awarded to Robert Lewandowski, given his dominant season in which he won the sextuple and produced 21 goal contributions in 9 UCL games. The controversy does not lie in who should have won, as is often the case with the Ballon d’Or, but in the fact that the award was not given at all.

France Football still has the opportunity to right this wrong and regain the respect of football fans around the world by awarding Robert Lewandowski the cancelled 2020 Ballon d’Or, either at the 2025 ceremony set for 22 September or even in a private presentation.

We, as fans of the beautiful game, must unite in our cause to recognize this incredible season, one of the greatest ever by a striker, that gave millions of us joy and hope during difficult times.

As Rio Ferdinand said, "Someone start a petition, to get this man his Ballon D'or", that is exactly what we're trying to do, because it is an absolute disgrace, that Robert might retire without a Ballon D'or in his cabinet.
Rio Ferdinand in conversation with Robert Lewandowski