The Polish-born Bayern Munich striker and Poland national Robert Lewandowski was awarded the title of World Player of the Year 2020 by football’s world governing body, FIFA.
Lewandowski was ahead in the fight of world football legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Lewandowski responded to his triumph with the words, “this is a great day for me.”
Lewandowski, the first Pole to win the award, came ahead of Juventus Turin star Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona powerhorse Lionel Messi.
“It’s an honour to win this prize playing in the same era as Messi and Ronaldo. Being set against them is fantastic in itself,” Lewandowki said.
“I’m very proud and happy. I have to say this is a great day for me, my team, my teammates. I have to tell them ‘thank you,’ because this award also belongs to them, to the coaches, the staff at Bayern Munchen and the national team. I feel incredibly good,” Lewandowski told FIFA President Gianni Infantino, from whom he received the title.
Short Brief about Lewandowski:
Last season, Lewandowski helped his team, Bayern Munich, to win the UEFA Champions League, the German Bundesliga and the German Cup and he was the best striker in all three competitions. He scored 34 goals in the Bundesliga, 15 in the Champions League and six in the German Cup.
In the 2020/21 season he has also been impressive scoring 15 goals after 12 rounds in the Bundesliga and being the leading scorer. In the Champions League he has so far scored three goals.
The 32-year-old Pole was also chosen for the best men’s team of the year.
In addition to that, Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp has been named the best coach of the year. The German specialist was ahead of Hans-Dieter Flick (Germany, Bayern) and Marcelo Bielsa (Argentina, Leeds United).
Manuel Neuer of Bayern Munich has been voted FIFA’s best goalkeeper by men, and Sarah Buhaddi of Lyon’s Olympique has finished her outstanding career with the award as FIFA’s best goalkeeper among women.
Female Player of the Year was won by Lucy Bronze of Manchester City and Trainer of the Year was won for the second time in a row by Juergen Klopp of Liverpool.
The awards ceremony in Zurich was held without an audience due to coronavirus restrictions.
The winner of Player of the Year is voted for by selectors and captains of national teams, journalists and internet users.
“This title is his great dream and aim,” Bayern Munich trainer Hansi Flick said a few days earlier. “Justified, because it seems to me that this season no one deserves it more than him.”
