Football News: Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski - the Ballon d'Or saga 

Current Poland captain Robert Lewandowski responded to a reporter's assertion that he had a problem with Lionel Messi after he won the Ballon d'Or in 2021.

Robert Lewandowski was the frontrunner to receive the award in 2020 after Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga, Champions League, and DFB Pokal, but the ceremony was canceled because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Robert Lewandowski was instrumental in helping Bayern win the Quadruple in 2020, but Lionel Messi received the special award after guiding Argentina to Copa America victory that same year.

Robert Lewandowski said that he hoped Lionel Messi's words were not "empty words," but later clarified his quotes.

The 34-year-old was questioned at Poland's welcoming news conference in Doha if he would publicly shake Lionel Messi's hand when the two meet at the 2022 World Cup on November 30.

Robert Lewandowski asked the journalist to clarify their question, and said, "I don't understand the question."

Robert Lewandowski responded, "Why would I need to shake hands? Between me and Messi I have nothing with him, I never had."

After the journalist clarified the question, Robert Lewandowski responded, "Where and when [did I say] that? I do not remember I said it like that. Maybe you saw it on Instagram and someone thought I said it like that, but it was not me."

A question about the reminders of Lionel Messi at Camp Nou led Robert Lewandowski to reply, "Leo Messi is in great shape. At Barcelona you can see everywhere he's a legend."

Both nations are in Group C with Mexico and Saudi Arabia and could be considered the favourites to move to the round of 16 as the tournament continues Sunday.

Robert Lewandowski says the Barcelona ban is too long

Robert Lewandowski believes his three-match suspension for receiving a red card versus Osasuna is excessively lengthy.

The striker was dismissed for two yellow cards in his team's La Liga match this month, with the disciplinary committee announcing he will miss three games in part due to a gesture he made while leaving the ground.

However, Robert Lewandowski feels wronged and claims the gesture was directed at Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez.

"An excessive sanction, too severe. It's too long," he told reporters on Friday. "But [the gesture] wasn't for him, it was for the coach, everyone knows it because it was in his direction and not the referee."

Barca appealed the penalty so that the 34-year- old could be lowered before his team's December 31 La Liga comeback.