January 18 – Less than two months after being snubbed for the Ballon d’Or, Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski beat Argentine superstar Lionel Messi and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah to pick up the FIFA best men’s player award for 2021.
The Polish captain scored a remarkable 69 goals in as many appearances for club and country, equalling five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo’s best year in 2013.
“I feel proud, I feel happy,” said Lewandowski, speaking via video at the ceremony in Zurich after winning the trophy for a second time having lost out to Messi for the Ballon d’Or in November.
“We all work hard to win the games and the trophies. It’s special to work with all these guys around me. I never dreamed of this record.”
Barcelona captain Alexia Putellas collected the award for best women’s player, triumphing over Barcelona team-mate Jennifer Hermoso and Chelsea’s Australian striker Sam Kerr, just as she did for the Ballon d’Or.
Ronaldo won a special award for setting a record of most international goals scored for his country, beating Ali Daei’s mark of 109 with Iran. The 36-year-old Portuguese now has 115 goals from 184 games.
“I never expected to beat this record, and I thank my teammates from these past 20 years,” said Ronaldo, who also holds the record for 140 Champions League goals.
Chelsea picked up both coaching awards through Thomas Tuchel and Emma Hayes while Erik Lamela, now of Sevilla, won the best goal award for his rabona for Tottenham Hotspur.
The medical staff and players of Denmark, who had to deal with Christian Eriksen’s collapse on the field at the Euro won the “fair-play” award while the Fifa-Fifpro men’s world 11 was chosen as follows:
Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan/Paris Saint-Germain)
Defenders: David Alaba (FC Bayern München/Real Madrid CF), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus FC) and Rúben Dias (Manchester City FC)
Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City FC), Jorginho (Chelsea FC) and N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea FC)
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus FC/Manchester United FC), Erling Haaland (BV Borussia 09 Dortmund), Robert Lewandowski (FC Bayern München) and Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona/Paris Saint-Germain)
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1736452480labto1736452480ofdlr1736452480owedi1736452480sni@w1736452480ahsra1736452480w.wer1736452480dna1736452480