Zurich (AP) – Robert Lewandowski smiled at the camera in a smart dark suit and happily accepted the small silver trophy from the first congratulator, Oliver Kahn.
“Thank you very much, I feel very honored,” said the old and new world footballer from FC Bayern, who was named the best player of the year by the world association FIFA for the second time in a row. “I am very, very proud and feel very lucky,” added the 33-year-old Pole, also dedicating the award to his teammates. Unlike the Ballon d’Or, this time Lewandowski won against superstar Lionel Messi.
In addition to CEO Kahn, Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann and sports director Hasan Salihamidzic also congratulated on site – 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. Thomas Tuchel was one of the honorees after the voting of selected players, national coaches, journalists and fans.
The Chelsea coach was named world coach after the Blues triumphed in the Champions League. The 48-year-old prevailed against big names: against the Italian European champion coach Roberto Mancini and Pep Guardiola from Manchester City. 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 quite surreal, I’m overwhelmed and a little uncomfortable.” Tuchel took over Chelsea just over a year ago and won the premier class with the London club.
Lewandowski’s Bayern team-mate 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.
“I would not have dared to dream that”
Lewandowski had improved Bayern legend Gerd Müller’s age-old goal record for goals in a season from 40 to 41 goals last season. “I wouldn’t have dared to dream of that,” said the Pole, who has scored as he wants again this season. Messi, on the other hand, won the Copa América with Argentina and thus his first major title in the national jersey, the third finalist was Egyptian Mohamed Salah from Liverpool FC.
The votes of the national coaches and captains of the representative teams of the FIFA member associations, selected journalists and fans worldwide were decisive in the election. Lewandowski received a total of 48 points – four more than Messi.
In the FIFA world team, Lewandowski represents the Bundesliga together with Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland. The duo, along with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, form the attack in the selection that was voted for by almost 19,000 professionals, according to the players’ union Fifpro. “I’m happy,” said the connected Haaland. “All my life I’ve loved watching players score goals and it’s even better to score them yourself.” German players didn’t make it into the world eleven – even for women, where no Bundesliga players were selected either.
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 team-mates 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.
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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