Messi Hails Lewandoski After Winning Ballon d'or

Lionel Messi has showered encomiums on Robert Lewandoski after beating him to the 2021 Balloon d'or award.

The PSG star topped the award poll with 613 points, while Robert Lewandoski had 580 to finish second.

"Robert, you deserve your Ballon d'Or. Last year, everyone was in agreement to say that you were the big winner of this award," Messi said in his speech.

"Hopefully France Football will give you the 2020 Ballon d'Or. We all believe you deserved it and I hope you can have it at home."

Lewandowski won the new striker of the year award category.

Messi led Argentina to their first Copa America trophy since 1993 in the summer.

He also won the Copa Del Rey trophy with Barcelona last season, he also finished as the top scorer in the Laliga.