‘You have to ask him’ – Lionel Messi’s Fifa Best pick leaves Lewandowski baffled as German press erupt in fury
BAFFLED Robert Lewandowski insisted ‘you’ll have to ask Lionel Messi’ to explain after his bizarre Fifa The Best votes.
And the German press furiously piled in on the Paris Saint-Germain forward as they defended the Bayern Munich striker.
Lewandowski, 33, was crowned Fifa’s The Best player of the year for 2021 this week after scoring a record 69 goals.
He collected 48 points in the votes, pipping Messi on 44 and Mo Salah on 39.
But as the captains’ votes were revealed, there was shock that Messi chose injury-hit PSG team-mate Neymar as the best player in the world in 2021 – even though the French side did not even win Ligue 1.
His two other picks were club pal Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema as he snubbed his greatest rivals to the award.
And the Argentina captain’s selections did not go down well, just weeks after declaring Lewandowski deserves a Ballon d’Or.
German newspaper Bild wrote: “Shame on you, Messi,” suggesting he rigged his Fifa vote in a deliberate ploy to avoid handing Lewandowski points and give himself a better chance of winning.
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Asked about the ex-Barcelona hero’s choices, the red-hot Bayern striker said: “Those were very nice words from Messi at the Ballon d’Or.
“Now with his choice – you have to ask him the question!
“I haven’t done anything wrong that he can be mad at me except my sporting output.
“That’s his decision, I don’t want to say anything negative.”
Ironically, neither German head coach Hansi Flick, formerly of Bayern, nor captain and Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer selected seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi in their top threes – they both opted for Lewandowski.
Cristiano Ronaldo voted for Lewandowski while the Poland star went for Jorginho as his No1 choice then Messi then Ronaldo.
Lewandowski is now looking to win a hat-trick of Fifa Best awards after also claiming the gong for 2020.
His sensational form has continued into this season with the former Borussia Dortmund ace bagging 34 goals in just 26 appearances already.
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