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Ranking the 30 Ballon d’Or nominees

By Carter Mulvihill

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - JANUARY 11: FIFA Ballon dOr 2015 nominees Lionel Messi of Argentina and FC Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Real Madrid answer media questions during the FIFA Ballon dOr 2015 press conference prior to the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2015 at the Kongresshaus on January 11, 2016 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Stuart Franklin - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - JANUARY 11: FIFA Ballon dOr 2015 nominees Lionel Messi of Argentina and FC Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Real Madrid answer media questions during the FIFA Ballon dOr 2015 press conference prior to the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2015 at the Kongresshaus on January 11, 2016 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Stuart Franklin - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) /
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5. Robert Lewandowski

MUNICH, GERMANY – OCTOBER 22: Robert Lewandowski of Muenchen runs with the ball during the Bundesliga match between Bayern Muenchen and Borussia Moenchengladbach at Allianz Arena on October 22, 2016 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)
MUNICH, GERMANY – OCTOBER 22: Robert Lewandowski of Muenchen runs with the ball during the Bundesliga match between Bayern Muenchen and Borussia Moenchengladbach at Allianz Arena on October 22, 2016 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images) /

Over the last five years, no striker in the Bundesliga has been more feared than Robert Lewandowski. Last season, the Polish No. 9 outdid himself.

With 30 goals to lead the league, Lewandowski led the line for a Bayern attack that once again proved to be among the world’s best.

A throwback striker, Lewandowski’s success has proved that there’s still a place in the game for a classic out-and-out center forward. Blessed with size, strength and some of the best aerial ability in the game today, there’s a reason he scored five goals in a nine-minute span last season.

Though the quarterfinals of a major tournament is always an achievement, it was hardly a dream Euro 2016 for Lewandowski and Poland. After leading all players in goals during qualifying, Lewandowski managed just a single goal in the Euros, scoring in Poland’s 1-1 shootout loss to Portugal.

Just 28, Lewandowski has his sights set on getting Poland to its first World Cup since 2006. With five goals already eight Bundesliga games this season, he’s still scoring at a torrid rate.

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