The top management of FC Bayern Munich responded diplomatically to Robert Lewandowski's defeat at the Ballon d'Or.
“Congratulations to Lionel Messi.
But Robert Lewandowski would have deserved the Ballon d'Or in addition to being named Striker of the Year because he has been doing absolutely outstanding every day for years, ”said CEO Oliver Kahn in a message from the German soccer champions.
Messi had received the Golden Ball for the seventh time in Paris on Monday evening, Bundesliga top scorer Lewandowski had to be content with second place in the prestige election carried out by the French specialist newspaper “France Football”, despite a good season.
The fact that he was honored as the best goalscorer was little consolation for the exceptional Polish professional footballer.
Lewandowski has long since arrived “in the Olympus of the greatest in world football”, said Kahn: “I'm excited to see which records he will set with our club in the future.
He will be a candidate again next year. "
Sports director Hasan Salihamidzic said: “We at Bayern would have given Robert Lewandowski this title from the bottom of our hearts!
We are proud to have this exceptional player in our ranks, who was rightly voted Striker of the Year. ”Bayern President Herbert Hainer was“ once again proud of Robert Lewandowski, because he deserved it, after Gerd Müller, Franz Beckenbauer and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge to become the fourth player in our traditional club history to win this title.
Robert is one of the greatest players in FC Bayern and world football. "
Ronaldo: "He lied"
Former Bayern player Lothar Matthäus was less diplomatic.
“To be honest, after this election I don't understand the world anymore.
With all due respect to Messi and the other great nominated players.
Nobody would have deserved it like Lewandowski, ”said the TV expert and German national record player.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi's constant rival not only in this election, was angry too.
However, not so much because of the award for Messi, rather Ronaldo raged on Instagram against the co-organizer of the election.
"Pascal Ferré lied, he used my name to advertise himself and the newspaper he works for," wrote Ronaldo on Instagram. He responded to statements by the editor-in-chief of "France Football", who had claimed that Ronaldo's main goal was to end his career with more gold balls than Messi. Ronaldo has five wins, Messi now has two more.
Meanwhile, there was still a little satisfaction for a German in the end: Thomas Tuchel was involved from London when the Champions League winner Chelsea FC was named the best club of the year.
“A great trophy for the club.
We had a very successful year.
We want to continue like this, ”said the success coach.
The French camera work insisted on showing the Paris-Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo at the side of club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi at the words of Tuchel, who made the Chelsea soaring due to the separation from Tuchel shortly before Christmas last year Year made it possible involuntarily.