"I still don't know why I didn't win that Ballon d'Or"

At 36 years old, Robert Lewandowski enters the final year of his contract with Barcelona still performing at a high level. Last campaign, he achieved his best goalscoring record for the 'Cules' and competed fiercely for the Pichichi trophy with Kylian Mbappe. Now, as he himself asserts in 'BBC Sport', he is facing another season with positive feelings.

"When I see that I don't have to catch up with the youngsters and that they have to catch up with me, it means it will be a good season. I can still give my best," the Pole told the British media.

He also acknowledged that he is learning to engage with academy players and prospects to help them: "I've understood that I don't have to compete with them, but rather help them and let them help me. I learn a lot from them, which is something I never imagined could happen."

"The Ballon d'Or? I was at my peak"

Among all the talents, one stands out: Lamine Yamal. "It's the first time I've watched a footballer for 50 minutes and immediately knew he had something special," he recalled about the 'Cules' winger's debut: "I couldn't believe it because I had never seen a player like that at his age. I thought it was impossible to do something like that at 15 years old."

Robert Lewandowski's career is long and prolific. He has won everything in Europe and is one of the continent's most dominant forwards. However, he still harbours a significant regret: the 2020 Ballon d'Or, which was not awarded due to the pandemic. A year later, it would go to Leo Messi, not him.

"I was at the peak of my career and had won everything with my club," he explained about that sextuple-winning year with Bayern. "I think the worst part about it is that I still don't know why I didn't win that Ballon d'Or," lamented Lewandowski, who also commented on the 2025 contenders.

"Lamine and Raphinha had great seasons"

"There are many players who could win it. Lamine Yamal's season has been incredible, but ultimately it depends on what you consider most important. He still has a long way to go, and if he doesn't win it this year, he will next. Raphinha has also had a great campaign. We have several players among the favourites to win this trophy," he argued.

From the Ballon d'Or regret to a Premier League one, albeit with a caveat. The British newspaper drew out of Lewandowski that he was very close to moving to Old Trafford when he was still playing for Borussia Dortmund: "I did say yes to Manchester United. I wanted to sign and play for Alex Ferguson."

"But Borussia didn't want to sell me," he added. "They knew that if I stayed they would get more money from me, and that I could perhaps wait a year or two longer to leave," he continued. For him, England would have been a good chapter: "Maybe I regret not having played in the Premier League."

Nevertheless, Lewandowski looks back and feels at peace: "I have played for Bayern Munich, for Borussia Dortmund, and now for Barcelona. I must say that I am very happy with my career. I don't have that feeling of having missed out on anything; every decision I made was a conscious choice."