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The fans of FC Bayern will remember well.

In 2013, an outstanding Franck Ribéry led the Munich team to a triple under coach Jupp Heynckes and was named European Footballer of the Year.

The Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo triumphed over his Argentinian rival Lionel Messi in the election for World Footballer of the Year, which at that time was still called “Fifa Ballon d'Or”.

Offensive star and crowd favorite Ribéry only finished third, although Ronaldo had not won a title in 2013 and Messi was only the Spanish champion.

Could history repeat itself in 2020?

Under normal circumstances, the winner of the election of the world association Fifa, the result of which will be announced this Thursday from 7 p.m., can only be named Lewandowski.

Robert Lewandowski scored 23 goals in 20 Bundesliga games against Wolfsburg - no other club did he score as often

Source: AFP / LUKAS BARTH-TUTTAS

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Masters, DFB Cup winners, Champions League winners.

Top scorer in all three competitions, plus success in the German and European Supercup - and the title of European Footballer of the Year.

Bayern's Polish striker was the outstanding player of the season, while Messi was humiliated in the 8-2 draw against Munich and was the last stop for Ronaldo in the Champions League round of 16.

“You have to say clearly that Robert Lewandowski would have absolutely deserved this award,” said Bayern's CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge of the “Abendzeitung” and added: “He played an outstanding season with many goals, and he has his qualities for the benefit of Team increased again. "

Rummenigge: Ronaldo in other countries with advantages

But in the election, the votes of fans, national coaches, national team captains and journalists are equally part of the result.

Popularity values ​​can be more decisive than sporting success.

35 years old and still in top form: Cristiano Ronaldo has been playing for Juventus Turin since 2018

Source: pa / NurPhoto / Massimiliano Ferraro

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Rummenigge knows that too.

Messi and Ronaldo have "a certain starting advantage in other parts of the world such as Asia, Africa and especially South America".

There they are "much more present and widespread" on television than Bundesliga players.

There are more decisions to be made this evening:

World coach

The likelihood is pretty good that a German coach will receive the title.

In addition to Bayern coach Hansi Flick, Jürgen Klopp (Liverpool FC) and Marcelo Bielsa (Leeds United) are also shortlisted.

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Klopp was eliminated in the Champions League with Liverpool FC in the round of 16, but led the Reds to their first championship in 30 years.

Bielsa made promotion with Leeds.

World goalkeeper

The fact that Bayern won the premier class was also thanks to the parades of national goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

That could bring him the title of world goalkeeper.

His rivals are the Brazilian Alisson from Liverpool FC and the Slovenian Jan Oblak from Atlético Madrid.

FC Bayern have a good chance of defending their Champions League title.

They are the clear favorites in the round of 16 against Lazio

Source: REUTERS


World soccer player

The German national player Dzsenifer Marozsán from Olympique Lyon just missed making it into the top three.

Either the former Wolfsburg Pernille Harder from Sweden (Chelsea FC), the English Lucy Bronze from Manchester City or the French Wendie Renard (Olympique Lyon) will be chosen.