Former Dynamo Kyiv and USSR national team forward Igor Belanov, who won the 1986 Ballon d'Or, has said it is unfair to award the 2021 award to PSG and Argentina striker Lionel Messi.
"I don't understand what kind of hegemony this is! It turns out that for two years in a row Lewandowski has been "dumped" like a boy. Although he was the best. I am not saying that Lionel Messi is bad. Not in any way! He is a unique footballer, just the "bomb"! But seven Ballon d'Ors... How many can they give him - maybe twenty?" - Belanov told Meta-ratings.com.ua.
Messi received his seventh award at the Ballon d'Or ceremony, which was held on November 29. He beat out Lewandowski, who came second in the voting and scored 33 less than the Argentine. The Ballon d'Or was not awarded in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
