Which club do you join if you want to win the Ballon d'Or?

Robert Lewandowski is connected a ngo to triumph the Ballon d'Or, with the striker adjacent going nationalist with the admittance that helium swapped Bayern Munich for Barcelona implicit the summertime successful a bid to amended his chances of yet claiming the award.

Lewandowski spent 8 highly palmy years successful Germany and was positioned arsenic the favourite to triumph the Ballon d'Or successful 2020 aft a peerless tally of signifier saw him people 55 goals successful 47 games arsenic Bayern powered to a league, cupful and Champions League treble. However, the striker was past cruelly denied his accidental by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw the lawsuit canceled.

The 34-year-old -- who did triumph back-to-back men's FIFA The Best awards successful 2020 and 2021, portion besides picking up the 2021 Striker of the Year grant astatine the Ballon d'Or ceremonial -- signed for Barcelona for €45 cardinal this summertime and has said that his determination was astatine slightest partially influenced by a calculated crippled to amended his chances of yet getting his hands connected the Ballon d'Or itself.

"I cognize that Barcelona is the squad wherever the astir players person won it. I deliberation the way is shorter from Barca than from Bayern," the Polish poacher told Marca.

Lewandowski has his eyes connected the prize 🏆👀 pic.twitter.com/djFUXsLfeO

Indeed, statistic beryllium that Barcelona players person won European football's astir prestigious idiosyncratic grant much times than immoderate different nine -- though of people those numbers are importantly skewed by the information Lionel Messi won it 7 times during his stint astatine Camp Nou betwixt 2009 and 2021.

However, with 11 goals successful his archetypal 8 games for Barca already this season, it surely looks similar Lewandowski is superior astir chasing down the Ballon d'Or that truthful cruelly eluded him 2 years ago.

Given that the Catalans person seen their players assertion the grant connected much than doubly the fig of occasions that Bayern person since the inaugural ceremonial successful 1956 (which was won by Sir Stanley Matthews, Blackpool's lone recipient truthful far), it looks similar past is besides connected his side.

- Stream connected ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, much (U.S.)

Barcelona (13 Ballon d'Or winners, 6 antithetic players)

Over fractional of Barca's full Ballon d'Or wins were amassed by 1 man: with Messi liable for the club's past 7 triumphs, taking apical spot successful 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021 -- the twelvemonth successful which helium near the nine to articulation Paris Saint-Germain connected a escaped transfer.

Prior to Messi's tally of dominance, the Catalans saw Ronaldinho (2005), Rivaldo (1999), Hristo Stoichkov (1994), Johan Cruyff (1973, 1974) and Luis Suarez (1960) triumph the grant portion wearing their celebrated blaugrana stripes.

Real Madrid (11 winners, 7 players)

Given that Karim Benzema is the odds-on favourite to triumph this year's award, Real Madrid's number is apt to emergence to 12 successful the adjacent future, but until past they stay connected 11.

Luka Modric (2018) is Los Blancos' astir caller winner, though nary subordinate has claimed much Ballon d'Ors for the Spanish giants than Cristiano Ronaldo (2013, 2014, 2016, 2017). Ronaldo has really won the grant 5 times overall, though the archetypal of his triumphs came successful 2008 during his archetypal stint astatine Manchester United.

Skipping backmost adjacent further done the annals, Real person Fabio Cannavaro (2008), Ronaldo Nazario (2002), Luis Figo (2000), Alfredo Di Stefano (1957, 1959) and Raymond Kopa (1958) to convey for completing their awesome collection.

Juventus (8 winners, 6 players)

Juventus' astir caller Ballon d'Or triumph came backmost successful 2003, erstwhile Czech Republic maestro Pavel Nedved played his mode to the trophy, narrowly pipping Thierry Henry of Arsenal successful the running.

Before that, Zinedine Zidane (1998) and Roberto Baggio (1993) some won the grant successful the 1990s, portion Michel Platini (1983, 1984, 1985) and Paolo Rossi (1982) ensured a flawless four-year expanse during the mid-'80s.

However, the Bianconeri's maiden Ballon d'Or was claimed each the mode backmost successful 1961, erstwhile the large Omar Sivori took the honours aft firing the nine to the Scudetto for the 3rd clip successful 4 years.

AC Milan (8 winners, 6 players)

While level-pegging with their Serie A counterparts, Milan lone person to spell backmost to 2007 to find their past Ballon d'Or victor successful Kaka, who lifted the grant 3 years aft teammate and onslaught spouse Andriy Shevchenko (2004) did likewise.

The Rossoneri also took the prize six times earlier 2000 acknowledgment to George Weah (1995), Marco van Basten (1988, 1989, 1992), Ruud Gullit (1987) and Gianni Rivera (1969.)

play

1:39

Don Hutchison and Jan Age Fjortoft judge Robert Lewandowski should person won the men's Ballon d'Or.

Bayern Munich (5 wins, 3 players)

Although it ne'er came to walk owed to circumstances beyond anybody's control, Bayern should person seen their subordinate assistance the Ballon d'Or successful 2020 -- frankincense disrupting an impervious Barcelona-Real Madrid duopoly that had been moving since 2009.

Lewandowski finished 2nd successful the ballot down Messi for the 2021 award, which led the Argentine to congratulate his Polish modern during his acceptance speech.

"I'd similar to notation Robert, it's been a existent honour to vie with him. Everyone knows and we hold that you were the victor past year. I deliberation [award organisers] France Football should grant you your 2020 Ballon d'Or, you deserved it," Messi said from the podium.

Lewandowski wasn't rather truthful courteous successful the aftermath. "I'm not that enthusiastic astir getting the 2020 award," helium told Polish outlet Kanale Sportowym. "I would similar [Messi's speech] to beryllium a sincere and courteous connection from a large subordinate and not conscionable bare words."

With Lewandowski missing retired successful 2020, Bayern person to spell each the mode backmost to 1981 to find their astir caller Ballon d'Or recipient, with Karl-Heinz Rummenigge collecting the grant for a 2nd consecutive year. The German nine dominated the country passim the decennary anterior with the legendary Franz Beckenbauer (1972, 1976) and Gerd Muller (1970) completing the set.

Manchester United (4 wins, 4 players)

Ronaldo is the past Manchester United subordinate to triumph the Ballon d'Or (2008) oregon adjacent gain truthful overmuch arsenic a congratulatory motion successful the apical 3 of the voting.

David Beckham (second, 1999) and Eric Cantona (third, 1993) some made it onto the podium successful the abstraction of a decade, but United's erstwhile Ballon d'Or victor was George Best each the mode backmost successful 1968. Best was the past of United's famed "Holy Trinity" to assertion the award, pursuing Sir Bobby Charlton (1966) and Denis Law (1964.)