Status: 09:32 a.m
Robert Lewandowski, connected from Munich, won the Fifa award for the second time in a row
Source: AFP / HAROLD CUNNINGHAM
World governing body Fifa once again names Robert Lewandowski the best footballer in the world. The FC Bayern striker leaves Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah behind and finds emotional words. A German is also awarded.
RObert Lewandowski is the best in the world again. The 33-year-old star striker from FC Bayern Munich was named FIFA World Player of the Year for the second year in a row on Monday. “Thank you very much, I am very honored” said 33-year-old Lewandowski, “I’m very, very proud and feel very lucky.”
In addition to CEO Kahn, Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann and sports director Hasan Salihamidzic also congratulated on site in Munich – because of the corona pandemic, FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced the winner from distant Zurich via an online gala. “Robert Lewandowski is a phenomenon: once he’s reached a summit, he’s already thinking about the next one,” Kahn praised the top striker. “He is the personified perpetuum mobile of scoring goals,” enthused Bayern President Herbert Hainer.
“Everything that happened last year, the Bundesliga record, I would never have dared to dream of it. If you had told me that a few years ago, I would not have believed it,” said Lewandowski, visibly emotional. Then he thought of Bayern legend Gerd Müller, who died last year: “Without him none of this would have been possible.”
The Pole prevailed against six-time winners Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah in the voting of selected players, national coaches, journalists and fans. German national players played no role in the world association’s online gala broadcast from Zurich – but Thomas Tuchel did.
Thomas Tuchel won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021. Now he was voted the best coach in the world at the Fifa Gala in Zurich
Source: AFP / HAROLD CUNNINGHAM
The Chelsea coach was honored as world coach after the Blues triumphed in the Champions League. The 48-year-old prevailed against big names: Italian coach Roberto Mancini and Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola. Tuchel succeeds Jürgen Klopp, who received the award for his successes with Liverpool in 2020 and 2019.
“It’s been a very normal day so far, I’ve just come from training, but now you said my name,” said Tuchel, who was connected via video, to Arsène Wenger, who honored him. “It’s pretty surreal, I’m overwhelmed and I’m a little uncomfortable.” Tuchel took over Chelsea just over a year ago and won the premier class with the London club.
Neuer defeated in world goalkeeper election
The Spaniard Alexia Putellas was honored as the best player in the world. “This award is for all of us,” said the 27-year-old to her teammates at FC Barcelona. One of them, Jennifer Hermoso, had made it to the final, as had Australia’s Sam Kerr. Barcelona beat Chelsea 4-0 in the Champions League final last summer and Putellas had already been voted Europe’s best player.
Lewandowski’s teammate Manuel Neuer, on the other hand, missed his second FIFA World Goalkeeper of the Year award. Tuchel’s Chelsea goalkeeper Édouard Mendy was chosen, and European champion Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain) also made it to the final. Neuer had won the election for 2020 after Bayern’s triple triumph.
Lewandowski had to admit defeat to Messi when the Ballon d’Or was awarded by the French sports newspaper “France Football” at the end of November. “Of course, when I heard the result, I was kind of sad, I don’t want to deny that,” he said afterwards.
Denmark’s medics honored for Eriksen case
Last season, the Pole improved Bayern legend Gerd Müller’s record for goals in one season from 40 to 41. In the current season, too, the Pole scores as he wants. At the European Championships in the summer, however, he was eliminated with Poland in the preliminary round. Messi, on the other hand, won the Copa America with Argentina and thus his first major title in the national jersey.
In the Fifa World XI, Lewandowski represents the Bundesliga together with Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland. The duo, along with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, form the attacking squad chosen by nearly 19,000 professionals, according to Fifpro players’ union.
“I’m happy,” said the connected Haaland. “All my life I’ve loved to see players score goals and it’s even better to score them yourself.” German players didn’t make it into the World XI – even in the women’s squad, where no Bundesliga players were selected either .
The Fifa world selection with Robert Lewandowski and Erling Haaland in the storm
Source: AFP / HAROLD CUNNINGHAM
It got emotional during the gala when the fair play award was presented. The national players and the medical staff of the Danish selection were awarded after the drama about star player Christian Eriksen.
The 29-year-old collapsed on the lawn on June 12, 2021 during the European Championship group match between Denmark and Finland in Copenhagen and had to be revived. Meanwhile, the visibly shocked Denmark internationals formed a protective circle around their team-mate. The FIFA Fan Award went to the Danish and Finnish fans.
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