🏆 Ballon d'OneFootball: And in 3rd place is ... | OneFootball

Welcome to the third annual edition of the Ballon d’OneFootball as we continue our countdown of the top 25 players in the world.

Click right here to see the full list so far.

And today we have …

3rd: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich and Poland)

(Last year: 1st)

There may be some debate on whether or not Lewandowski is the best player in the world.

What isn’t in doubt is that he is the best pure centre-forward and most lethal finisher on the planet.

The Pole doesn’t pull out a flashy bag of tricks or a blistering turn of pace but what he does better than anyone else is the hardest job in football: putting the ball in the net.

Barely a matchday goes by without the 33-year-old breaking a new record for his extraordinary feats in front of goal. The numbers speak for themselves.

For the fifth time, he has managed a 30+ goal league campaign this season, equalling the record set by the immortal Gerd Müller.

Last season, he even surpassed Müller for the greatest scoring season in Bundesliga history, netting 41 times, while also beating the calendar year record too with 43 strikes across 2021.

That was in addition to his 11 goals in 12 caps for Poland across the year too, one which many thought should have ended in Ballon d’Or glory.

There was similar sentiment in 2020 when the award was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the man who won last year’s honour even believes himself that Lewandowski deserved the recognition.

“I’d like to mention Robert, it’s been a real honour to compete with him,” Lionel Messi said after collecting the trophy again. “I think France Football should award you your 2020 Ballon d’Or – you deserved it.”

Fifa did ultimately attempt to put things right by crowning him as The Best last year, which is certainly a fitting moniker for a man who is unparalleled in the final third of the field.

That is evidenced in the way he gets his goals. Of his haul this season so far, 21 have came with his stronger right foot but he’s also managed a credible nine with his left foot and seven from headers.

His range of finishing is extensive and bettered by few, if any, others in world football.

Those stunning scoring exploits and statistics at the highest level say more than any individual prize ever could.

Click right here to see the full list so far.