Lionel Messi has been blasted by the German media after his stance over Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski.
The Poland marksman was crowned 2021 FIFA Best Men's Player on Monday night, pipping second-placed Messi to the crown.
Two months earlier, the Argentine pipped the Pole to win his record-breaking seventh Ballon d'Or title as he landed the 2021 accolade.
Messi edging out Lewandowski in the Ballon d’Or voting had led to multiple football legends criticising the decision and claiming that the Bayern striker had been unfairly judged.
Despite netting 38 goals in his final season for Barcelona and winning Argentina’s first international tournament since 1993, things have not gone to plan for Messi since his high-profile summer transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.
Have Your Say! Did Lewandowski or Messi enjoy a stronger 2021? Tell us what you think here.
Lewandowski has never won a Ballon d’Or title – having missed out, in somewhat controversial fashion, to Messi for 2021 and due to the awards being cancelled the year before that.
The Bayern hitman is the most lethal player on the planet – his scarcely believable prowess saw him net 48 goals in 40 appearances last term and is averaging more than that this time round, with 34 goals in 26 outings.
He broke Gerd Muller’s long-standing Bundesliga goalscoring record last year with a scarcely believable 41 goals in just 28 league starts.
For many, Lewandowksi is indisputably the best player in the world right now but Messi did not name him in his top three players of the world in 2021.
Bild highlight this as a possible ulterior motive by Messi, who saw Lewandowski as his main rival and wanted to deprive him of points.
The German media outlet write “Shame on you, Messi” as he placed his Paris Saint-Germain teammates Kylian Mbappe and Neymar in the top three, alongside Karim Benzema of Real Madrid.
It is pointed out how Cristiano Ronaldo placed Lewandowski at the top of his list ahead of Chelsea midfield pair N'Golo Kante and Jorginho.
Lewandowski, for his part – voted for Jorginho in first place ahead of Messi.
Lewandowski was unsurprisingly ranked number one by Germany boss Hansi Flick – previously of Bayern – and his club teammate Manuel Neuer, neither of whom considered Messi in their top three.
Lewandowski said of his PSG counterpart’s selection: "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."
Lewandowski has now surpassed Messi in FIFA’s The Best titles – the Poland international has now won the gong in 2020 and 2021, with Messi’s sole title coming in 2019 of the award that began in 2016.
