In the recent edition of the Ballon d'Or, France Football has left a historic gap in its record: the award was not awarded in 2020, which means that the award was left without a champion during the pandemic. This fact has generated debate among fans and experts, as Polish striker RobertLewandowski, who dominated the 2019-20 season with Bayern Munich, would have been the strongest candidate to receive the trophy.
The 2019-20 season was interrupted by the health crisis, but the Bundesliga and Champions League concluded in July and August, respectively. Despite the conclusion of the competitions, France Football decided to cancel the December 2020 gala, citing the uncertainty and risks of the pandemic. The result was that the Ballon d'Or remained without a winner for a year, creating a gap in the list of recipients that, according to the publication itself, was not filled with a valid vote.
Lewandowski's case became even more relevant when, upon receiving the 2021 Ballon d'Or, LionelMessi asked if the 2020 award should have been given to the Pole. PascalFerré, then editor-in-chief of France Football, confirmed that there was no vote that year and added that, “honestly, Lewandowski would have had a good chance of winning it.” The forward, who scored 55 goals in 47 games in 2019-20 and won five titles (the Champions League, the Bundesliga, the League Cup, the European Super Cup and the German Super Cup), also received the FIFATheBest award, reinforcing the idea that his performance deserved the Ballon d'Or.
The debate not only revolves around sporting merit, but also historical justice. Some analysts maintain that, in the absence of a valid vote, the award should be retroactively assigned to Lewandowski, considering his absolute dominance that season. Others argue that the absence of the gala was a legitimate decision given the global situation and that the history of the award cannot be gone back.
As for what's next, France Football has not announced any concrete plans to fill the gap in 2020. However, discussion continues in the media and on social media, with many Lewandowski and Bayern fans clamoring for official recognition. Meanwhile, the Polish striker continues to add wins and goals, establishing himself as one of the best of his generation and keeping alive the debate about the fairness and integrity of individual awards in world football.