With the 2020 Ballon d'Or cancelled, Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has suggested that Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski should start a petition to get France Football to reverse its decision.
The French publication announced last month that there would be no 2020 edition of the famous and prestigious Ballon d'Or award, making it the first time it will not be handed out since its inauguration in 1956.
Lewandowski was considered by many as the favourite for the prize this time around due to the incredible year he has had for the Bavarians, and Ferdinand has admitted that if he were the Poland international, he would be furious.
"Aside from the year when Luka Modric won it, Messi and Ronaldo have dominated that award for the last 12 years and Lewandowski has taken himself to the next level this season.
"I can't believe they have cancelled it. It's cruel, that is a good word to describe it. Lewandowski deserves to win that award for what he has done this season and if he leads Bayern Munich to the Champions League and they still decide they won't give it out to him, it's not right.
"People say Ronaldo takes the award too seriously, but I'm not having that. What the award means to the history of the game, I think it's a disgrace that they have taken it away for this year.
"Why can't they give the award out, even if they don't have a big ceremony to hand it over like they normally do? I think it's really out of order.
"This is a big deal. You talk to Michael Owen and ask him what the best trophy was in his career and he might say it was the Ballon d'Or in 2001.
"To be on that list as the best player in the world is special. All these players want to be there. That's the elite, the ultimate for a top player, and in this generation now there are two players who have dominated it for so long.
"That would have made it all the more special for Lewandowski, to get his name on that list and I can't believe they have taken it away from him."
