Robert Lewandowski has backed former Barcelona teammate Lamine Yamal to win the Ballon d’Or, while also highlighting Bayern Munich duo Harry Kane and Michael Olise as players capable of challenging for football’s most prestigious individual award.

The Polish striker believes Yamal’s exceptional talent makes him a deserving candidate, but was particularly impressed by Olise, describing the Frenchman as a potential future winner of football’s most prestigious individual award whilst speaking to The Athletic. 

“Of course, I push my finger for Lamine to win the Ballon d’Or, because he’s amazing, especially for his age,” Lewandowski said.

The former Bayern forward also highlighted the impact Kane has made since arriving in Munich, praising his goalscoring record and the attacking partnership he has developed with Olise and Luis Díaz.

“Harry Kane came to Bayern in his prime and what he’s doing is amazing, how many goals he’s scoring, and especially that Bayern missed this kind of striker after I left,” he explained.

“And with him they’re doing a really good job and Olise for me is like: ‘Wow.’ He’s the game-changer player. And I think this work and cooperation between Kane, Olise and Díaz is like a perfect match.”

Lewandowski believes Bayern’s performances last season deserved to be rewarded with Champions League success, suggesting that winning Europe’s premier competition would have put their campaign alongside the club’s historic 2019/20 treble-winning season.

He also reflected on the Bundesliga’s changing landscape, pointing to Bayern’s emphatic 6-1 victory over RB Leipzig as an example of their current dominance.

“The Bundesliga changed a bit the last one, two years compared to when I was there,” he said. “But of course, how Bayern develops, that is something amazing that everyone can learn from them and try to follow them.”

Despite backing Yamal for the Ballon d’Or, Lewandowski believes Olise could enter the conversation himself, particularly if he impresses at the upcoming World Cup.

“Olise has a huge future. I know that everyone is talking about Lamine, but I try to find sometimes the different players and see something, sometimes that not everyone sees yet,” he added.

“For me also, probably if Olise scored one or two goals in the World Cup, he would be the favourite also to win the Ballon d’Or, with Lamine or with Harry Kane, also.”

Lewandowski concluded by praising Olise’s decision-making and creativity, highlighting his ability to recognise when to shoot and when to create opportunities for teammates.

His comments underline the growing recognition of Olise’s influence at Bayern, with the Frenchman emerging as one of the Bundesliga’s standout attacking talents alongside Kane.