“The question has to go to him,” Lewandowski said Tuesday. “I’ve not done anything wrong that he could be annoyed at me for, other than sporting things, that’s different, but privately I hope everything is okay.

“That was his decision, I respect that. I don’t have to say anything or be simply annoyed.”

Munich’s Lewandowski, 33, retained his honour with Messi – who voted for Paris Saint-Germain team-mates Neyar and Kylian Mbappe, and Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema – second.

World football governing body FIFA conducted the award through a weight poll of national coaches and captains, selected journalists and fans.

Messi won the Ballon d’Or, organized by France Football magazine, in November, but had said previously Lewandowski should have taken the honour in 2020 when it wasn’t award due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Lewandowski had a stunning 2021 in which he set numerous scoring records and now has 300 Bundesliga goals – behind only the legendary Gerd Müller.

“All of Gerd Müller’s records only help me to get better,” he said. “If there’s a record that can be broken, then I want to try.

“Scoring [Mueller’s Bundesliga best] 365 goals is a tough one to beat. It’s not something I’m thinking about. What matters more to me is what we achieve this season.”

Bayern are out of the German Cup but lead the Bundesliga by six points and meet Red Bull Salzburg in the last 16 of the Champions League.