The 2022 Ballon d’Or ceremony is set to take place on Monday, October 17.
For just the second time since 2008, the winner is not expected to be either Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi.
Karim Benzema, Sadio Mane and Erling Haaland are among the favourites to win the award this year.
The full list of nominees for this year’s Ballon d’Or can be found here.
One man who nearly joined Luka Modric in breaking the Ronaldo-Messi cycle back in 2020 was Robert Lewandowski.
The Pole looked set to win the award following a stellar year, only for France Football to scrap the Ballon d’Or that year due to Covid.
The FC Barcelona striker is once again a candidate, however, it is not expected to be his year and he has instead selected the man who he believes will win.
Lewandowksi: “He is the favourite to win the Ballon d’Or, of course, if they don’t cancel it...”
Lewandowski believes that Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema is the favourite to win the 2022 Ballon d’Or.
The Frenchman has enjoyed a sensational year with Real Madrid winning both La Liga and the Champions League.
Benzema finished top scorer in the European Cup last season with 15 goals, many of which were crucial for helping Los Blancos go all the way.
Last season, the 34-year-old managed 44 goals and 15 assists in 46 appearances in all competitions, averaging a direct goal contribution every 66.42 minutes.
Speaking about Benzema winning the award, Lewandowski said: “He is the favourite to win the Ballon d’Or, of course, if they don’t cancel it...
“Probably he is going to win this Ballon d’Or.”
The two players meet in El Clasico on Sunday which is likely to have a big impact on this season’s La Liga title race.
Read more here:
Manchester United winger Antony reveals Cristiano Ronaldo’s best trait
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/xlmedia/9622a2c5-6da7-4745-9af3-fdfdff4ef9bb.png)
