I'D PICK LEW
Kevin de Bruyne claims Robert Lewandowski should win Ballon d’Or ahead of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo
KEVIN DE BRUYNE says he would pick Robert Lewandowski ahead of his Manchester City team-mates for the Ballon d’Or.
The Premier League champions have five nominations for the prestigious world footballer of the year award – including the Belgian himself.
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City's Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden, Ruben Dias and Riyad Mahrez have also been named on the 30-man short-list for an award which will be presented in Paris on November 29.
Six-time winner Lionel Messi and five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo are both in the running again after their respective summer moves to Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United.
But De Bruyne says his vote would go to Poland striker Lewandowski – who scored 48 goals in 40 games last season to help Bayern Munich win the Bundesliga.
Many felt he was the obvious choice for the 2020 Ballon d'Or - which was cancelled due to Covid-19 - after scoring a staggering 55 goals in 47 games for treble-winning Bayern.
De Bruyne said: “If I had to choose myself personally, I'm going to look at a two-year period.
“I'd choose Lewandowski for what he has done in the last two years - goal scoring wise, and also he's won a lot with Bayern. He would be my pick.”
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Sterling spoke out last week to reveal he would consider a move away from the Etihad to get more first team minutes.
De Bruyne has some sympathy with the England ace as he believes he is a player who needs to be playing regularly to produce his best form.
He said: “Rotation is important because playing four competitions and mostly going far in them, it's a tough ask sometimes.
“But I understand the frustration because you have some players who need more rhythm to get into it and maybe Raz is someone who needs more."
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