Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, Bayern Munich’s top scorer, beat Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) and Argentina’s Lionel Messi (Barcelona) as the Best Player of the Year for FIFA, who presented him with The Best award.
The attacker, born in Warsaw 32 years ago, has been decisive in the spectacular year he has spent at Bayern Munich, in which with his goals he has managed to win the German Bundesliga, Cup and Super Cup, as well as the UEFA Champions League and European Super Cup.
Lewandowski, author of fifteen goals in the ‘Champions’, has already been voted best player in that competition ahead of his teammate Manuel Neuer and Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City.
On this occasion he has preceded the Argentine Leo Messi, Barcelona striker and winner of The Best 2019, and the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, who won this award in 2016 and 2017.
With his choice are four players who have won this award, after Cristiano, Messi and Luka Modric, Croatian midfielder of Real Madrid, who won in 2019.
Lewandowski received the trophy directly from FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who was not on the stage of the gala, but went to present the award to the Pole.
“I am very happy. It has been an important year for me and for the team, of course. I am grateful for the award and I thank my teammates and the coach,” said the Polish striker excitedly.
“Competing for this award with Messi and Ronaldo is amazing. For me it is an honor to be together with these two players,” he added.
LUCY BRONZE, THE BEST OF GIRLS
Lucy Bronze, the current Manchester City and English national team defender, has been awarded FIFA’s Best Player of the Year award for 2020.
Bronze, 29, played in the last campaigns at Olympique Lyon. She was one of the architects for the French team to get, in addition to domestic titles, its fifth consecutive ‘Champions’.
Last year she was third in this award after Americans Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan.
This time she has been chosen ahead of the Danish Pernille Harder, Chelsea striker who in previous campaigns played in Wolfsburg, and his former teammate Wendie Renard, captain of Olympique Lyon.
“It has been a surprise to me to even nominate these two players I know well, great, beautiful people together. It’s an honor to be on the same level as them. I have no words to explain what I feel.” , said Bronze, who says he will record this moment for life for recognition after such a difficult year.
OTHER WINNERS
Manuel Neuer, of Bayern Munich, was recognized like the best arquero, thus beating Atlético de Madrid’s Slovenia’s Jan Oblak and Brazil’s Alisson Becker (Liverpool), winner in 2019.
In heading a best archer, it cannot be for the Chilean Christiane Endler (Paris Saint-Germain), since the prize was in the hands of the French Sarah Bouhaddi (Olympique de Lyon).
The Best 2020 awards ceremony was held as a virtual television show, broadcast from its headquarters in Zurich and hosted by former Dutch player Ruud Guillit and English journalist Reshmin Chowdhury.
Argentine Lionel Messi and Americans Megan Rapinoe were the winners of the 2019 edition as best players.