Bundesliga News

Bayern bosses react to Messi pipping Lewandowski to the Ballon d'Or

By Rune Gjerulff   @runegjerulff

In a statement posted on Bayern München's website, club bosses Herbert Hainer, Oliver Kahn and Hasan Salihamidzic shared their thoughts on the fact that Lionel Messi pipped Robert Lewandowski to the Ballon d'Or last night.
Hasan Salihamidzic.
Hasan Salihamidzic.
Bayern München president Herbert Hainer, CEO Oliver Kahn and board member for sport Hasan Salihamidzic have reacted to yesterday's Ballon d'Or event, which saw Lionel Messi win football's most prestigious individual award ahead of Robert Lewandowski.




Messi claimed his seventh Ballon d'Or award with 613 points, with Lewandowski coming in second place after accruing 580 points.

Although he didn't lift the grand prize, Lewandowski didn't go home empty handed as he won the new Striker of the Year award. Still, the Bayern bosses couldn't hide their disappointment.

"FC Bayern München congratulate Lionel Messi on winning the Ballon d'Or. However, we are once again proud of Robert Lewandowski, because he deserved to become the fourth player in our rich club history to have won this award, after Gerd Müller, Franz Beckenbauer and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. Robert absolutely ranks as one of FC Bayern and world football's greatest players. That he has been awarded Striker of the Year is well deserved after his many goals over the past two years," said club president Herbert Hainer.

His words were echoed by club CEO Oliver Kahn, who commented:


"Congratulations to Lionel Messi. But Robert Lewandowski would have also been just as deserving of the Ballon d'Or alongside his Striker of the Year honor because he has been absolutely outstanding every day for years. Even without the Ballon d'Or, Lewandowski has long since arrived in the pantheon of the greatest ever in world football. I'm already excited to see what other records he will set with our club in the future. He will be a candidate again next year."

Board member for sport Hasan Salihamidzic commented:

"Congratulations to Lionel Messi on winning the Ballon d'Or. But we at FC Bayern would have also wished from the bottom of our hearts for Robert Lewandowski to win this award. We are proud to have such an exceptional player in our ranks, who was quite rightly named Striker of the Year. He is a model professional and will never let up. Robert always sets himself new targets - that's why he is one of the best players in the world."


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