BERLIN (AFP) – Nicknamed ‘The Body’ and dubbed a ‘machine’ by his wife, Robert Lewandowski has done what many thought impossible – relegating superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to supporting roles at a football awards show.
On Thursday, Bayern Munich’s Polish striker claimed FIFA’s ‘The Best’ prize for the year’s top footballer, a season crowned by a European Champions League medal.
“He deserved it more than anyone else. He played the season of his life,” said Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge after Lewandowski’s 55 goals in 2019/20 were a key factor in Bayern winning the treble.
The Poland forward has already scored 18 goals in 17 games this season, hitting the net twice against Wolfsburg on Wednesday to pass the milestone of 250 Bundesliga goals.
The fact Lewandowski has had to wait until he is 32 to be crowned at FIFA’s ‘The Best’ awards is down to the way he proved himself in the knock-out stages of the Champions League last season.
His three goals in this season’s group stages puts him level with Real Madrid legend Raul on 71 Champions League goals, short of Messi’s 118 and Ronaldo, who has scored 134 times.
In October, Lewandowski was named UEFA’s Player of the Year after Bayern added the UEFA Super Cup to their Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League titles.
