Pole Robert Lewandowski, star striker of Bayern Munich, was named best player of the year 2020, Thursday, December 17, during the Fifa "The Best" awards ceremony in Zurich.
Winner of the Champions League with Bayern, he has never obtained the Ballon d'Or, which is not organized this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
He beat, for once, the two other nominees, the stars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, multiple winners of the Ballon d'Or.
A real goal machine, the former Borussia Dortmund has stacked 55 in 47 matches in all competitions, including 15 in 10 Champions League games.
"Winning a prize ahead of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo means a lot to me," reacted the 32-year-old scorer.
This trophy "also belongs to my team-mates and my coach, […] we have won everything we could win".
The best selfie you ever did see 🤳 @ lewy_official #TheBest #MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/vPNTljZvdB
- FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) December 17, 2020
In the women's category, the English Lucy Bronze was named best player of the year 2020, succeeding the American Megan Rapinoe crowned at the end of the previous season.
The 29-year-old Manchester City defender, European champion with Lyon in August, was in competition with her former teammate at OL Wendie Renard and striker Pernille Harder, who moved from Wolfsburg to Chelsea in early September.
“Winning this trophy this year, I'm going to appreciate it more than anything. I'll remember that moment for the rest of my life,” she commented.
A year like this has made us all appreciate everything so much more.
So to finish 2020 with this award is an honor!
Two fantastic footballers were also nominated & could easily have been accepting this.
Congrats on a great year @PernilleMHarder @WRenard #FIFAFootballAwards pic.twitter.com/npIqX6SFYk
- Lucy Bronze (@LucyBronze) December 17, 2020
The French Sarah Bouhaddi, best goalkeeper
Olympique Lyonnais goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi has been named the best goalkeeper for the 2019-20 season, succeeding the Dutch Sari van Veenendaal, winner of the first trophy last year.
The 34-year-old Frenchwoman won the votes cast by the coaches and captains of the national teams, journalists and Internet users who took part in the vote, ahead of the Chilean of Paris SG Christiane Endler and the American Alyssa Naeher who plays for the Chicago Red Stars.
🗣 "It's a very nice reward and a big surprise, because I was surrounded by great goalkeepers. Our position is not easy!"
🧤
Tonight, all the credit goes to her, @BouhaddiSarah, designated #TheBest - FIFA 2020 Goalkeeper 🏆👸👏 pic.twitter.com/oEAfpr5vnA
- FIFA.com (FR) ⚽ (@fifacom_fr) December 17, 2020
"It's a very nice reward […]. It's an honor to be the winner tonight against two very good goalkeepers", reacted the Lyonnaise by thanking "her teammates", "her staff" and the president of OL Jean-Michel Aulas in particular.
Among the men, the trophy fell into the gloves of the German Manuel Neuer, captain of Bayern only caught failing twice during the "Final-8" won by the Munich in August.
As for the coaches, the prize was awarded to the German Jürgen Klopp, already crowned last year and who in June offered Liverpool a title of champion of England behind which he had been racing for thirty years, as well as to Netherlands coach Sarina Wiegman.
Finally, the Puskas prize for the most beautiful goal of the year was presented to the South Korean Heung-min Son, author of a memorable lonely raid with Tottenham, wiping out half of Burnley's team with his dribbling and acceleration. lightning before concluding the action without trembling.
[# Puskas🏆] Son Heung-Min's goal which wins the award for the most beautiful goal 2020!
(@FIFAcom) pic.twitter.com/nP1DGUT0Qy
- Footballogue⭐️⭐️ (@Footballogue) December 17, 2020
With AFP
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