Generations will continue to change, previously Real Madrid also had great midfielders such as Zidane, Lassana Diarra, Luis Figo, Xabi Alonso and several other great midfielders. Their departure certainly left a big hole in the team, but Real Madrid has always been able to move on from them. Maybe at this time there is no one who can replace Toni Kroos, but the current stock of midfielders is still reliable. They just need to hone their ability to control the rhythm of the game and become creators in the process of scoring goals.
What happened in Real Madrid was that, they got overly dependent on Kroos and Modric, forgetting that they need to start to look for a replacement for them earlier and make them adapt into the game before they leave the club, so I felt it was too late when they brought in new players that will be their replacement, that’s why they’re facing some difficulties in the midfield now. I know that with time, things will get better for them, but they need to adjust that midfield and make it better if they want to win games.
I think Lewandowski is definitely one of the players who deserves it. There is a Ballon D’or award that was not given to him in the past. The Polish striker is one of the best strikers who plays active football and despite his age, he still plays efficiently. He has the goals that have brought Barcelona to the top. For him, age still seems like a formality. I think he was one of the most valuable players who deserved this award but he has not received it yet. He probably will not receive it in his career.
Awards like this when missed are hardly to come around again especially when the player is already of age and approaching their retirement age. Lewandowski have been a good striker for long now and even when he was in Bayern Munich, he still happens to be one of the best strikers in Europe. The only problem he was facing at that time was that his home team are not that strong to win him trophies in the international level, but he was indeed one of the best that time. Balon d’Or does now look like it’s going to come his way again. He can fight to win more trophies in the little time left in his career but shouldn’t prioritize winning the trophy at this point in time again.