Former Italian defender Paolo Maldini picks Lewandowski to win the Balon d’Or over Benzema and Messi

There has been a lot of debate over the Balon d’Or winner this time. While a lot of people have stuck with Lionel Messi, some of them feel it can be Robert Lewandowski or even Karim Benzema winning it this time.

Several experts and former footballers have had their say on this topic. Legendary Italian defender, Paolo Maldini recently said that Bayern Munich striker Lewandowski is his pick for the Balon d’Or over Lionel Messi mainly due to the consistency shown by the Poland international.

Maldini was speaking on Radio Marca and there she picked Lewandowski as her favourite to win the prestigious award whereas he feels Lionel Messi and Karim Benzema will finish off in the top three positions.

“I think that this year Robert Lewandowski deserves the Ballon d’Or. Karim Benzema could also win, but Lewandowski kept the incredible ‘hunger’ for scoring goals. He broke many records with his efficiency.”

“Lewandowski, Benzema, and Messi will surely be the top three. I think Messi has the best chance, I personally would like Lewandowski to win.”

While the former AC Milan legend feels Lewandowski should win it, he still believes Lionel Messi is the favourite to win the award. All three forwards have had stellar campaigns and deserve to be here fighting for the Balon d’Or. However, people will have to wait another month before knowing Balon d’Or.

Messi best bet for the award is mainly due to his long awaited International trophy win with Argentina. The Albiceleste played exceptional football and defeated Brazil in the finals allowing Messi to lift his first major international trophy with Argentina. His performances were acknowledged as he became the ‘Player of the tournament’.

Robert Lewandowski has been in excellent goalscoring form for club and country. The Pole recently scored 40 goals in a season to break Bayern Munich legend Gerd Muller’s long standing Bundesliga record. If the award was handed out last year, Lewandowski would have been overwhelming favourites. However, France Football decided to cancel the award last season mainly due to the pandemic.

Other contenders also include players like Jorginho, Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, etc. While Benzema has been scoring goals for Real Madrid through thick and thin, Jorginho has won a lot of silverware for club and country in the last season. He bagged the Champions League for Chelsea under Thomas Tuchel. He followed it by winning the European Championships with Italy. He has bagged the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year award and has some chance of winning the Balon d”Or.