Why Was the 2020 Ballon d'Or Not Awarded?
The Ballon d'Or is the most prestigious individual award in football, recognizing the best player in the world each year. Since its creation in 1956, the award has celebrated some of the greatest names in football history, including Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modrić, and Karim Benzema.
However, 2020 remains one of the most unusual years in the award's history. For the first time in the history of men's Ballon d'Or no winner was announced. The decision shocked football fans around the world, especially because many believed Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski had done enough to claim the prestigious honor.
So, why was the 2020 Ballon d'Or never awarded? Here's the complete story.
Why the 2020 Ballon d'Or Was Never Awarded
The COVID 19 Pandemic Changed Everything
The 2020 football season was heavily affected by the COVID 19 pandemic. Major leagues across Europe were suspended for several months, while some competitions were canceled altogether. Different countries resumed football at different times, creating an unusual and inconsistent season.
Because of these circumstances, France Football, the organization behind the Ballon d'Or, announced in July 2020 that the award would not be presented that year. The organizers believed it would be impossible to judge every player fairly, as not all leagues and competitions had been completed under the same conditions.
According to France Football, maintaining the integrity and credibility of the award was more important than selecting a winner during such an unprecedented season. The decision marked the first time since 1956 that the Ballon d'Or was not awarded.
Who Were the Leading Candidates for the 2020 Ballon d'Or?
Although France Football never published an official 2020 Ballon d'Or ranking, Robert Lewandowski was widely regarded as one of the leading candidates after an outstanding season with Bayern Munich.
Robert Lewandowski enjoyed one of the greatest individual seasons in modern football. The Polish striker led Bayern Munich to an incredible treble, winning the UEFA Champions League, Bundesliga, and DFB Pokal. He also finished as the top scorer in all three competitions, consistently delivering match-winning performances throughout the campaign.
Robert Lewandowski's 2019–20 Season in Numbers
UEFA recorded Lewandowski's 2019/20 campaign at 55 goals in 47 games, including 15 goals in the Champions League, where he finished as the competition's leading scorer.
- 47 appearances in all competitions
- 55 goals
- 10 assists
- 34 Bundesliga goals in 31 matches (League Top Scorer)
- 15 UEFA Champions League goals and 6 assists in just 10 matches (Champions League Top Scorer)
- 6 DFB Pokal goals in 5 matches
- Won the Bundesliga, DFB Pokal, and UEFA Champions League treble.
Lewandowski's 55 goals across all competitions made his 2019/20 campaign one of the most prolific individual seasons in European football.
Other Players Who Also Had Outstanding Seasons
While Lewandowski was widely regarded as one of the leading candidates, several other world-class players also produced outstanding 2019/20 campaigns.
Lionel Messi (Barcelona): Messi finished the La Liga season as the league's top scorer and also led Europe's major domestic leagues for assists according to UEFA.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus): UEFA records that Ronaldo scored 37 goals for Juventus during the 2019/20 season and helped the club win another Serie A title.
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City): De Bruyne produced an outstanding campaign, scoring 16 goals and providing 23 assists in all competitions. He also equaled Thierry Henry's Premier League record with 20 league assists according to UEFA.
Thomas Müller (Bayern Munich): Müller played an important role in Bayern's treble-winning campaign and set a Bundesliga record with 21 assists during the league season.
Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain): Neymar helped PSG reach their first Champions League final and played an important role in their domestic success.
Despite the outstanding performances from these stars, football fans, pundits, and many former players believed Robert Lewandowski's achievements placed him ahead of the competition. His remarkable consistency, goal-scoring record, and decisive role in Bayern Munich's treble made him one of the strongest candidates for the award before it was canceled.
Was the 2020 Ballon d'Or Ever Going to Be Awarded Later?
No. France Football did not subsequently award an official 2020 men's Ballon d'Or. The 2020 edition remains without an official winner.
France Football instead returned with the Ballon d'Or in 2021. The 2020 cancellation therefore remains a unique interruption in the award's history.
As a result, the 2020 edition remains officially canceled, making it the only Ballon d'Or in the award's history not to have a winner since its inception in 1956.
Why Fans Still Believe Lewandowski Deserved It
Lewandowski's 2019/20 season remains central to the debate surrounding the cancelled award.
His remarkable goal-scoring record, consistency throughout the season, and key role in Bayern Munich's historic treble have made his 2019–20 campaign one of the greatest individual seasons in modern football.
Although the trophy was never presented, Lewandowski's 2019/20 season remains at the center of the debate over who might have won the award if it had been held. His goal-scoring record, Champions League success and role in Bayern Munich's treble made him one of the most prominent candidates. While the award remains officially canceled, the debate over who deserved it has never truly disappeared.
What Happened Instead in 2020?
Instead of awarding the normal Ballon d'Or, France Football used the year to create its Ballon d'Or Dream Team, an all-time XI selected by the award's international jury. The normal Ballon d'Or returned in 2021.
Conclusion
The 2020 Ballon d'Or was canceled because France Football believed the COVID-19 pandemic had created conditions that made a fair comparison between players impossible. Robert Lewandowski's extraordinary 2019/20 campaign made him one of the major candidates discussed around the award, but no official winner was ever named.
The Ballon d'Or returned in 2021, leaving 2020 as the only year in the award's history without an official men's winner.