For star striker Robert Lewandowski, the two awards for world footballer for 2020 and 2021 are "difficult" to compare.
"Both moments are incredibly good," said the FC Bayern striker in an interview with world governing body FIFA after his freestyle on Monday evening during an online gala.
"I always wanted to show my best." He is always happy about individual prizes because they also "mean that the team won," said the Pole.
A major goal for him now is qualifying with his home country for the World Cup in Qatar (November 21 to December 18).
Poland will play against Russia in the play-offs at the end of March.
"It won't be easy, but we're ready," said 33-year-old Lewandowski.
"He deserves this title"
Meanwhile, Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that Lewandowski's election was a matter of course for him.
“Probably no one thought for a second that it could turn out differently.
Because in Poland, Robert is someone special.
He is the greatest footballer in the history of our country," wrote the Prime Minister on Facebook.
The votes of the national coaches and captains of the representative teams of the FIFA member associations as well as selected journalists and fans worldwide were decisive for the election.
Lewandowski was "Poland's best ambassador and a role model for young people - and not just for those who play football," Morawiecki praised the 33-year-old striker.
There was also great joy at FC Bayern Munich.
President Herbert Hainer said: "Robert Lewandowski has once again made history with this world footballer election.
After his award last year, he didn't lose a single moment: he is the personification of perpetuum mobile of scoring.
The fact that he has now been honored for the second time in a row is further proof that he is one of the greatest in football history.
CEO Oliver Kahn agreed with this assessment. The former goalkeeper said: "Robert Lewandowski is a phenomenon: once he's reached a summit, he's already thinking about the next one." Board member for sport Hasan Salihamidzic said: "Robert deserves this title. He has consistently focused his life on his career. Discipline, will and quality are evident in every training session, which is why he is always optimally prepared. The fact that he has defended his title as the world's best footballer underlines his outstanding status and that will continue to motivate him for this season. Robert loves to set records.”
Meanwhile, congratulations to Munich also came from the new head of the German Football League (DFL), Donata Hopfen: "Robert Lewandowski is one of the greatest strikers in the history of German professional football - and an outstanding ambassador for the Bundesliga.
For years he has been delighting fans all over the world with his performances - and he is still getting better at a high level." In her statement, Hopfen also referred to Lewandowski's "extraordinary" goal record from last season, with which the Pole broke the previous record surpassed by Gerd Müller.
"The fact that he has now successfully defended his title as FIFA World Player of the Year and that this prestigious award is going to the Bundesliga again is well deserved and makes me extremely happy."