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Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski was named males’s participant of the yr on Thursday at FIFA’s ‘The Best’ awards ceremony in Zurich. The 32-year-old Lewandowski, prime scorer in Europe and winner of the Champions League with Bayern, got here out forward of the different two nominees, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. England defender Lucy Bronze took the ladies’s award, seeing off the problem of Wendie Renard and Pernille Harder.
It is the primary event for each Lewandowski and Bronze to win the award, with the Pole solely the second participant after Luka Modric in 2018 to interrupt a 13-year Messi-Ronaldo hegemony.
“I am very proud and very happy,” stated Lewandowski.
“I have to honestly say that it is a great day for me and for my club.
“It is an unbelievable feeling. Winning an award forward of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo means lots to me.”
Lewandowski’s stellar season for all-conquering Bayern has already been recognised by UEFA who awarded the Polish striker European player of the year in October.
While he has won the Bundesliga in each of his first six seasons at Bayern, finishing as the league’s top scorer in four of the last five seasons, his international profile has been hurt in the past by Poland’s mediocre form and his previous failure, at Dortmund and Bayern, to win the Champions League.
Last season, however, he was spectacular as Bayern won every game in Europe including the Champions League final against Paris St-Germain.
Lewandowski finished with 15 goals in the competition, five more than the next best striker, Erling Braut Haaland.
“It has not been a straightforward yr, because it has been for the entire world, however we gained every part we might win,” said the Pole.
“The spotlight was the victory within the Champions League remaining in opposition to PSG, it was a special occasion.”
His Bayern teammate Manuel Neuer was chosen as ‘The Best’ FIFA men’s goalkeeper.
Bronze, 29, who succeeds last year’s winner Megan Rapinoe, won the Champions League with Lyon in August before moving back to England to play for Manchester City.
She was a suprise winner ahead of her former Lyon teammate Renard, and striker Harder, who moved from Wolfsburg to Chelsea in early September.
“What a shock, to even be nominated alongside the 2 different gamers, they’re each unimaginable gamers and excellent human beings nicely,” said Bronze during the ceremony.
“I do not assume I’ve the phrases proper now to clarify how I’m feeling. If there’s something 2020 has taught us it’s to understand each second you’ve gotten, by no means look too far forward and stay within the right here and now.
“I will appreciate winning this award now more than ever and I will remember this moment for the rest of my life.”
France and Lyon’s Sarah Bouhaddi capped her fantastic profession with The Best FIFA ladies’s goalkeeper award.
Liverpool supervisor Jurgen Klopp was named males’s coach of the yr whereas present Dutch ladies’s nationwide staff boss Sarina Wiegman took the ladies’s award for the second time in her profession following her 2017 success.
Promoted
The Puskas Award for greatest purpose went to Tottenham’s South Korean striker Son Heung-min for a mazy, particular person purpose he scored in opposition to Burnley within the Premier League in December 2019.
The Best awards started in 2017 after a short merger with the Ballon D’Or, which was cancelled this yr due to coronavirus, and the FIFA Player of the Year award, which was created in 1991.
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