TOPSHOT – Barcelona’s Argentine forward Lionel Messi poses with his sixth Ballon d’Or before the Spanish League football match between FC Barcelona and RCD Mallorca at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on December 7, 2019. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP) (Photo by JOSEP LAGO/AFP via Getty Images)
In a bizarre surprise, the Ballon d’Or is gone for 2020.
Since 1956, the Ballon d’Or has been granted to the world’s best soccer player, adding in a version for the women’s game in 2018. But for the first time in the award’s history, there will be no Ballon d’Or in 2020.
In an official announcement, the organizers behind the award, Group L’Equipe, had the following to say about the decision,
“There will be no edition in 2020, because it turns out, after thoughtful consideration, that all the conditions are not met. We believe that such a singular year cannot — and should not — be treated as an ordinary one.”
They continued to cite the first two months before the shutdown as an insufficient amount of time to determine a winner, choosing to largely ignore the games played upon the restart of professional leagues due to the differing conditions under which they were and will be played.
It isn’t all bad news, though. Instead of awarding just one single player, Group L’Equipe will choose 11 players to form a “Dream Team” upon the year’s end.
Would a Ballon d’Or winner be valid this season?
While some can understand the decision to ax the award amid the coronavirus, it is difficult to argue that there were no clear favorites. Last year’s winner, Lionel Messi, delivered another sensational year with 25 goals and 25 assists.
There have been other noticeable performances across the globe, including Ronaldo’s with Juventus and Karim Benzema securing the La Liga title amid a stellar year with Real Madrid.
Undisputedly, no one has been better than Robert Lewandowski. 21 goals, 4 assists, Bundesliga and DFB Pokal title. He was the best goal scorer and player the world saw this year and without question the Ballon d’Or winner.
Now, he just won’t receive his award. Perhaps a Champions League title will be even sweeter instead.
