Robert Lewandowski wins FIFA award as best men's player

Robert Lewandowski won his biggest personal prize Thursday, showing that a forward t named Messi or Ronaldo can be voted world’s best soccer player.

Poland captain was named 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 Cristia Ronaldo. Voting was by a global jury of national team captains and coaches, plus selected journalists and fans.

Though FIFA hosted virtual ceremony in Zurich, its president Gianni Infanti went to Munich to present trophy in person.

Lewandowski joined Luka Modric, Croatia and Real Madrid midfielder who won in 2018, as only players in past 13 years to deny both Messi and Ronaldo victory.

Lucy Bronze was voted best women’s player to give England its first individual victory at FIFA awards. A Champions League winner with Lyon, she has since joined Manchester City.

Bronze won vote ahead of her former Lyon teammate Wendi Renard and Pernille Harder, who helped Wolfsburg to Champions League final.

Lewandowski is also first men’s winner from a club outside Spain since Ronaldo won 2008 award as a Manchester United player.

A Bayern player had t won since FIFA created a world player award in 1991.

club twice saw its stars relegated to third place by Messi and Ronaldo: Franck Ribéry in Bayern’s Champions League winning year of 2013, and Manuel Neuer one year later after Germany won World Cup.

Jurgen Klopp denied Bayern a sweep of FIFA men’s awards by being voted best coach for a second straight year.

Klopp, who guided Liverpool to become champion of England for first time in 30 years, won more votes than Hansi Flick, who took over at Bayern mid-season. Marcelo Bielsa of English second-tier champion Leeds was third.

Sarina Wiegman, who led Nerlands to 2019 World Cup final, was voted best coach in women’s soccer. She will take over England team next year.

(Im Courtesy: AP)