Lewandowski: 'I can invite Messi and Ronaldo to my table'

Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski joked he could now ‘invite’ Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to ‘his table’ after being named Best Player by FIFA.

The Poland international was awarded the best men’s player at FIFA’s Best awards last week and in an interview with France Football, he was asked about the dominance of Barcelona talisman Messi and Juventus hero Ronaldo.

“Messi and Ronaldo have been sitting at the same table, at the top, for a very long time,” Lewandowski told France Football. “And that’s what makes them incomparable.

“So, to answer your question, I can’t imagine myself next to them in this point of view.

“Afterwards, if you take the numbers for this year and even previous ones, I think I’m pretty good in terms of performance and goals scored.”

“Failing to be at the same table as Messi and Ronaldo, I think I can invite them to eat at mine,” he joked.

Lewandowski revealed former Italy internationals Alessandro Del Piero and Roberto Baggio are among his biggest idols.

“The ones I admired were Alessandro Del Piero and Thierry Henry, even Roberto Baggio, whom I saw playing when I was very young,” he said.

“But, as much as the big names, what made me dream were the big stadiums and their atmospheres...

“I have a desire to progress all the more important as I know that my time is limited. Obviously, progress is not instantaneous.

“When you repeat something every day, you can only measure its effect three or six months later, not the next day.

“The problem is, that a lot of people want the invisible work you do to be seen immediately. Patience is important, in football as in life.”

Lewandowski also revealed he was prepared to leave Borussia Dortmund after two years, as Manchester United came calling.

“After my second year in Dortmund, I had a conversation with Sir Alex Ferguson. He wanted me to come to Manchester,” he said.

“There I was very interested. I can even say I was ready. But Dortmund didn’t want to let me go. It didn’t bother me more than that because things were going well with Borussia...”