Robert Lewandowski plays down reports in Spain of a rift with Lionel Messi over the Ballon d'Or
Daily MailRobert Lewandowski has clarified that he is grateful for Lionel Messi's kind words at last week's Ballon d'Or ceremony, insisting that he was not aggrieved by any perceived lack of sincerity during the Argentine's acceptance speech. However, the Bayern Munich striker has told Sportsmail that this is not the case, and that Messi's sentiments - in which he called for France Football to retrospectively hand the Pole the 2020 Ballon d'Or - 'really touched me and made me happy'. Robert Lewandowski has clarified that there is no rift between him and Lionel Messi Messi, 34, pipped Lewandowski, 33, to the prestigious award at last week's ceremony in Paris In his acceptance speech, Messi said that Lewandowski should be awarded the 2020 prize Messi, 34, controversially pipped Lewandowski, 33, to the 2021 prize, with many fans and pundits opining that the Polish marksman was more deserving of the award. However, the Pole has told Sportsmail that Messi's tribute to him in Paris was 'touching' Bayern Munich team-mate Thomas Muller said the team will use his snub as motivation 'From the Bavarian, Polish and also German point of view, last night's Ballon d'Or award ceremony was definitely a disappointment, for some even a bit more,' Muller said in the wake of the result.