By David Awopetu
Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski has won The Best FIFA Men’s Player of the Year for 2020, beating Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo.
32-year-old Lewandowski joins Luka Modric (2018) as the only players other than Lionel Messi (6) and Cristiano Ronaldo (5) to have won the FIFA Men’s Player of the Year since 2008.
He also led Poland to Euro 2020 qualification and was named the 2019-20 UEFA Men’s Player of the Year in October.
The winners were decided by nominations from national team captains and head coaches, an online ballot of fans and 200 media representatives.
Though FIFA hosted the virtual ceremony in Zurich, its president, Gianni Infantino, went to Munich to present the trophy in person.
“It’s an incredible feeling” said Lewandowski, who made the shortlist for the first time.
This season, Lewandowski has picked up from where left off with 16 goals in 14 games for Bayern.
“If you win such an award and share that title with Messi and Ronaldo, that is unbelievable and it means so much to me,” Lewandowski said.
“A long time ago, I remember I was longing for something like this and now I can win such and award. This really means, regardless of where you come form, all that matters is what you put into it.”
