Zurich: Bayern Munich and Poland striker Robert Lewandowski beat Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to win the ‘Best FIFA Men’s Player’ award Thursday. On the other hand Manchester City and England defender Lucy Bronze won the ‘Best FIFA Women’s Player’ award. The award ceremony was a virtual event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Both Rober Lewandowski and Bronze won the award for the first time in their careers. Lewandowski is the fourth player third to win the award after Ronaldo, Messi and Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric.
The Poland captain was named the FIFA Best Men’s Player for 2020 after his 55-goal season lifted Bayern Munich to a sweep of international and domestic trophies.
Lewandowski topped a three-player shortlist that included Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Voting was by a global jury of national team captains and coaches, plus selected journalists and fans. Lewandowski received 52 voting points, with Ronaldo second on 38 Messi third with 35.
Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp won the ‘Best Men’s Coach’ award while Netherlands women’s national-team boss Sarina Wiegman won the ‘Best Women’s Coach’ award for the second time in her career.
Lewandowski’s Bayern team mate and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was chosen as the ‘Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper’, while France and Olympique Lyonnais’s Sarah Bouhaddi capped her amazing career with the ‘Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper’ award. Bouhaddi had earlier lobbied for the creation of the award.
Categories and Winners:
Men’s Player: Robert Lewandowski (Poland/Bayern Munich)
Women’s Player: Lucy Bronze (England/Lyon)
Women’s Coach: Sarina Wiegman (The Netherlands)
Men’s Coach: Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)
Women’s Goalkeeper: Sarah Bouhaddi (France/Lyon)
Men’s Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer (Germany/Bayern Munich)