Ballon d’Salt for Robert Lewandowski in place of Ballon d’Or: How a city in Poland is fixing “injustice”

Robert Lewandowski will be given a salt ball by the Polish town of Wieliczka in place of the Golden Ball, as a consolation for missing out on the 2021 prize.

The award, originally proposed as a joke but now expected to actually be presented, is intended to recognize the Poland international as the best player in the world this year after he finished second behind Lionel Messi in the Ballon d’Or poll.

A city councilor in Wieliczka, which is known historically for salt mining, called the Ballon d’Or snubbed “a lot of injustice” and vowed to do his best to make things right. right.

THAN: Why was Messi’s Golden Ball rejected by Lewandowski?

“There has been a lot of injustice and Robert Lewandowski has fallen victim to it,” city councilor Kamil Jastrzebski said on Twitter. “Therefore – as a member of Wieliczka – I ask the city to symbolically announce that Lewy is the best player in the world.

“Wieliczka is really going to do something that a few dozen hours ago was thought to be just a joke to improve the mood. That is, it will recognize Lewandowski as the world’s No. 1 player.

“There was also a proposal to expand my idea. Some people wanted to give the captain of our team a Salt Ball. In the past, salt was called ‘white gold’, so it also has a historical basis. and geography. I think that despite inflation and the general crisis, Wieliczka will be able to make enough salt.”

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Lewandowski is a beloved figure in Poland, so it’s no surprise that his hometown wants to honor him.

While he lost the main Ballon d’Or award, the decision was controversial, with some players, including teammate Thomas Muller, arguing that Messi should not have won. Other top contenders include Jorginho and Karim Benzema.

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Even Messi expressed sadness for Lewandowski, who was lined up to win the 2020 Ballon d’Or before it was canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ultimately, Lewandowski will have to settle for the New Year’s Striker and perhaps a salt ball – either way, it looks like he’ll enjoy another great season.