Win the Ballon d'Or? Lewandowski "has to pull the thing!"

For Thomas Müller, only his teammate Robert Lewandowski is eligible for the Ballon d’Or 2021 election.

“Lewy has to pull the thing,” said Müller after Bayern Munich’s 1-0 win over Arminia Bielefeld on the 13th matchday of the Bundesliga.

Lewandowski “absolutely deserved the choice, even if people in Spain might say that Benzema also deserved it. He also performed superbly, one has to say,” said Müller at Sky.

The difference between Lewandowski and Benzema is: “Lewy won everything with us … then the election fell out … then the following year he set the goal record in Germany … and if you can see what he himself did with the Polish national team … it’s much more difficult than with a top team. “

Benzema’s individual performance was “also outstanding this year”, “but Real Madrid and the French national team didn’t go far. Lewy has to get the thing and it’s done!”, Said Müller.

One month until the Ballon d’Or: The 30 nominees are in good shape

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In exactly one month, on November 29th, the French specialist magazine France Football will award the Ballon d’Or for the best footballer of the calendar year 2021. 30 players have been nominated. SPOX shows how the favorites for the award are in shape.

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As a reminder: in 2020 the Ballon d’Or was not awarded due to the corona pandemic. Robert Lewandowski would have had the best chances at that time. But he was able to console himself with the election to World Footballer of the Year 2020.

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CESAR AZPILICUETA | Chelsea FC | Defense: The Chelsea captain has had a successful season with the Blues so far and leads the Premier League. At 7-0 against Norwich he got a break.

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NICOLO BARELLA | Inter Milan | Midfield: Six assists in the first ten league games for Inter speak for themselves. The European champion is seamlessly following on from his good form at the European Championships.

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KARIM BENZEMA | Real Madrid | Attack: The Los Blancos’ best man has accumulated 19 points in 13 games this season. For ex-teammate Cristiano Ronaldo it is clear: Benzema should win the award.

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LEONARDO BONUCCI | Juventus Turin | Defense: Still irreplaceable at Juve, played nine out of ten league games. Despite his 34 years of age, a bank again, even if things haven’t really worked out at Juve so far.

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KEVIN DE BRUYNE | Manchester City | Midfield: Missed the start of the season injured, but is now getting better and better. Among other things, he scored a goal in the rousing 2-2 win against Liverpool.

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GIORGIO CHIELLINI | Juventus Turin | Defense: The 37-year-old European champion now gets a break from time to time at Juve – in the premier class he only has seven minutes played in three games.

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RUBEN DIAS | Manchester City | Defense: The outstanding player at City last season. Also this year has played an enormous part in the fact that the defending champions only conceded four goals in the league.

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GIANLUIGI DONNARUMMA | Paris Saint-Germain | Tor: The fact that he only sat on the bench at his new club PSG and still has to take turns with Keylor Navas made a lot of headlines. How long does it go on like this?

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BRUNO FERNANDES | Manchester United | Midfield: Ten scorer points in 13 games are not to be despised, but even he could not prevent the current crisis – and the bitter 0: 5 against Liverpool.

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PHIL FODEN | Manchester City | Attack: A foot injury put him out of action at the start of the season, but has become part of the starting XI in recent weeks. Four scorer points in the last three league games.

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ERLING HAALAND | Borussia Dortmund | Attack: Started the season with goals on the assembly line, but an injury to the hip flexor puts him out of action for quite a while.

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JORGINHO | Chelsea FC | Midfield: First a scorer point in the league, but as is well known, the Italian’s value in the Blues and in the national team cannot be measured by this. He’s one of the favorites.

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HARRY KANE | Tottenham Hotspur | Attack: Notorious late starter in the league, but not much has come together after his failed move in the summer: only one goal in eight league games.

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N’GOLO EDGE | Chelsea FC | Midfield: Not really gaining momentum this season: First there was a groin injury, then a corona infection. Has not played a single game yet.

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SIMON KJAER | AC Milan | Defense: Christian Eriksen’s savior at EURO 2020 recently extended his contract with Milan until 2024. A good footballer – but an even better role model.

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ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI | FC Bayern Munich | Attack: 17 goals in 14 games for Bayern in the new season – the Pole hits and hits and hits. Only against Gladbach he couldn’t do anything either.

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ROMELU LUKAKU | Chelsea FC | Attack: Immediately after his move, he gave the attack of the Blues a new dimension, and so far there are “only” four goals this season. Currently missing due to a sprain.

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RIYAD MAHREZ | Manchester City | Attack: The competition at the Cityzens is high, but the offensive whirlwind always knows how to convince. Already seven goals this season in 13 appearances.

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LAUTARO MARTINEZ | Inter Milan | Attack: There are always rumors about the Argentine changing, but now he has apparently extended his contract until 2026. Five goals this season in nine league appearances so far.

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KYLIAN MBAPPE | Paris Saint-Germain | Attack: The engine of the PSG attack has stuttered too often so far, but Mbappe is running. Not only six goals this season, but also eight assists.

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LIONEL MESSI | Paris Saint-Germain | Attack: Three goals so far in the premier class, but surprisingly still without a hit in the league. Nevertheless, his shape curve seems to be going up.

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LUKA MODRIC | Real Madrid | Midfield: At 36 years of age he always needs a break, but is still set in the important games. Two assists for Real in nine games of the season so far.

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GERARD MORENO | Villarreal CF | Attack: Signed a new six-year contract in the summer, but was not in the squad several times this season and has only scored one goal in the league.

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MASON MOUNT | Chelsea FC | Midfield: Didn’t get going right after the European Championship, but in the 7-0 win against Norwich, he was the outstanding man with three goals and an assist.

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NEYMAR | Paris Saint-Germain | Attack: training deficit, adductors, international matches – the Brazilian is not gaining momentum this year either. So far, three points scorer in eight appearances for PSG.

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PEDRI | FC Barcelona | Midfield: After a tough year including the European Championship and the Olympics, the young star also suffered a muscle injury. Result: Only 310 minutes of play this season for Barca.

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CRISTIANO RONALDO | Manchester United | Attack: The Red Devils’ goal rate is right – as always. But the team is not yet perfectly matched to him – and now manager Solskjaer is shaking too.

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MOHAMED SALAH | FC LIVERPOOL | Attack: Probably the best player in the world in the last few weeks, hits like an assembly line and sometimes in Messi-style. The question is whether his run will be a little late for the Ballon d’Or.

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RAHEEM STERLING | Manchester City | Attack: At City this season mainly a replacement, which is why he recently even publicly considered a change.

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LUIS SUAREZ | Atletico Madrid | Attack: Atleti took the title last season and started well again this season: seven goals in 13 appearances.

Bayern Munich: Lewandowski was the favorite in 2020

The award gala for this year’s Ballon d’Or will take place on Monday from 8.30 p.m. in Paris. Lewandowski was considered the favorite for the Ballon d’Or 2020 election, which was canceled due to the corona pandemic, but won the election for the less prestigious FIFA World Player of the Year.

Next to BVB goal scorer Erling Haaland, Lewandowski is the only Bundesliga player on the shortlist of 30 players.