Lewandowski named best FIFA player for 2020 – Newstrends
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Lewandowski named best FIFA player for 2020

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4 years ago

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Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski has beaten Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to emerge the Best FIFA Men’s Player of 2020.

Messi, the 2019 winner, and Ronaldo had claimed the top prize in three of the four prior editions.

Lewandowski led the line as the Bundesliga giants won the league, DFB-Pokal and Champions League in 2019-20.

Between July 20, 2019 and October 7, 2020 – the period considered for this year’s awards – the Poland international scored stunning 60 club goals at a rate of one every 76 minutes.

This tally, from 52 Bayern appearances, was 20 more than any other player in Europe’s ‘top five’ leagues.

While Ronaldo was second in this regard, tied with Ciro Immobile on 40 goals, Messi trailed Romelu Lukaku (37), Timo Werner (35) and Raheem Sterling (34).

The Barcelona captain’s 32 goals were matched by Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe.

FIFA recognition is particularly precious for Lewandowski this year after the coronavirus pandemic prompted the Ballon d’Or to be cancelled in the best season of his career.

Lewandowski, who had not previously won either award, was the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year last season, making him the favourite ahead of Messi and Ronaldo.

At 32, Lewandowski has had a breakthrough season.  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 by Poland’s mediocre form and his failure, at Dortmund and Bayern, to win the Champions League.

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Man Utd stun Lyon in nine-goal Europa League classic to reach semis

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14 hours ago

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April 18, 2025

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Man Utd stun Lyon in nine-goal Europa League classic to reach semis

Manchester United came from 4-2 down in extra-time to beat Lyon 5-4 in a remarkable Europa League quarter-final to progress 7-6 on aggregate on Thursday.

United’s season looked over when Lyon came from 2-0 down to lead by two goals with just six minutes remaining at Old Trafford despite having captain Corentin Tolisso sent-off.

However, a Bruno Fernandes’ penalty, Kobbie Mainoo’s strike and Harry Maguire’s header capped a stunning finale to set up a semi-final meeting with Athletic Bilbao.

The Red Devils sit 14th in the English top flight and defeat would have almost certainly meant missing out on European football entirely next season.

Instead they are just three games away from a European trophy and the lifeline of direct access to the riches of the Champions League next season.

First-half goals from Manuel Ugarte and Diogo Dalot had put United in a commanding position.

But the defensive deficiencies and mental fragility of Ruben Amorim’s side were exposed in a collapse that threatened to cap a miserable campaign.

Two goals in seven minutes from Corentin Tolisso and Nicolas Tagliafico brought Lyon level.

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Tolisso was then sent-off for two yellow cards in the 89th minute.

The 10 men still looked set to prevail in the extra 30 minutes thanks to a brilliant strike from Rayan Cherki and Alexandre Lacazette’s penalty.

United’s history is build on dramatic late fightbacks but few have been more remarkable than this to leave Lyon shellshocked.

The home side got off to a flying start thanks to a fine team goal as Fernandes released Alejandro Garnacho down the right and his cross picked out Ugarte to slot in just his second goal since joining the English giants form Paris Saint-Germain.

Amorim’s decision to restore Andre Onana in goal was under scrutiny.

The Cameroonian had been dropped for Sunday’s 4-1 thrashing at Newcastle after two costly errors that led to both Lyon’s goals in last week’s 2-2 first leg draw.

Those mistakes came after a war of words with former United midfielder Nemanja Matic, who labelled him “one of the worst goalkeepers in United’s history.”

The 29-year-old rewarded his manager’s faith with a couple of important stops to prevent Lyon levelling through Paul Akouokou and Cherki.

At the other end, a United side that have often looked laboured and lacking in ideas all season, suddenly clicked into gear in the first 45 minutes.

United doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time when Maguire’s long ball was expertly controlled by Dalot, who then fired in off the inside of the post.

Garnacho should have killed the tie off within minutes of the restart for the second half when he shot straight at Lucas Perri with Fernandes begging for a pass for a tap in.

That was to prove a turning point as United crumbled in stunning fashion.

Lyon boss Paulo Fonseca was able to prowl the touchline unlike in Ligue 1 where he is serving a nine-month touchline ban.

The Portuguese introduced captain Lacazette off the bench in a bid to turn the tide.

And the former Arsenal striker played a central role in the fightback.

Lacazette flicked on Moussa Niakhate’s header and Tolisso swooped to head in and give the visitors a lifeline.

Tagliafico then prodded in at the back post despite Onana’s attempt to scoop it off the line.

Just as Lyon were in the ascendency Tolisso gave them a mountain to climb again with a soft second yellow for a trip on Casemiro.

Yet, it did not initially matter as Cherki confirmed his status as one of Europe’s rising stars with a powerful drive that left Onana motionless.

Lyon’s other prized asset Malick Fofana was then chopped down by Luke Shaw inside the area and Lacazette confidently dispatched the resulting spot-kick.

Another penalty at the other end, though, kickstarted the fightback as Fernandes fired home.

Substitute Mainoo showed why he had been thrust in an unfamiliar forward role with a composed finish to level on 120 minutes.

Barely 60 seconds later Maguire completed the comeback with a towering header at the back post.

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© Agence France-Presse

 

Man Utd stun Lyon in nine-goal Europa League classic to reach semis

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Chelsea squeeze into Conference semis despite Legia defeat

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14 hours ago

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April 18, 2025

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Chelsea squeeze into Conference semis despite Legia defeat

Chelsea edged into the UEFA Conference League semi-finals on Thursday when a 2-1 home defeat by Legia Warsaw was enough for a 4-2 aggregate win.

Chelsea went 1-0 down to a 10th minute penalty before Marc Cucurella’s close-range equaliser on 33, but French defender Steve Kapuadi put the Poles ahead again in the 53rd minute with what proved to be the winner on the night.

Legia had a lively following at Stamford Bridge with flares and shirtless chanting from around 1,000 clearly delighted fans.

Thanks to their 3-0 win in Poland a week ago Chelsea however will next face Sweden’s Djurgardens, who thumped 10-man Rapid Vienna 4-1 away in extra-time their second leg.

A penalty by Czech forward Tomas Pekhart gave Legia the lead before Cucurella levelled and then saw a goal ruled out by VAR before Kapuadi’s winner.

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The manner in which Chelsea were defeated at home by the team currently fifth in the Polish Ekstraklasa, does not bode well for their Premier League top-five bid as coach Enzo Maresca’s problems continued to mount.

But Chelsea remain favourites to join Roma, West Ham and Olympiakos as winners of the third-tier European competition.

Twice runners-up Fiorentina drew 2-2 in a see-saw match with Slovenians Celje, going 1-0 up in the first half before slipping to 2-1 down with on form Moise Keane scoring the clincher for a 4-3 aggregate win.

In their semi they face in-form La Liga side Real Betis who drew 1-1 at home to secure a 3-1 aggregate win over Jagiellonia Bialystok of Poland.

Chelsea squeeze into Conference semis despite Legia defeat

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Breaking: Virgil van Dijk signs new contract at Liverpool

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1 day ago

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April 17, 2025

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Virgil van Dijk

Breaking: Virgil van Dijk signs new contract at Liverpool

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has signed a new two years contract that has now put an end to the questions about his future after months of speculation.

The 33-year-old Dutch center-back had been inside the final season of his previous deal, which was due to expire in the summer of 2025. But he has now penned an extension seven years after arriving from Southampton in a $95m (£75m/€90m) switch.

Van Dijk, who was named Liverpool captain when Jordan Henderson moved to Saudi Arabia in 2023, has played almost 300 games for the Reds.

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He has already won the Premier League and the Champions League.

Van Dijk always wanted to remain on Merseyside. “My very full focus is on Liverpool, wanting to win games that are ahead of me and nothing else,” he told reporters including from Liverpool.com in October.

“What the future will bring I have no idea at the moment. I can only tell you that discussions have been started up and we will see. I feel very good, physically, mentally and I am having fun.

“Discussions are ongoing with the right people and when it’s time to make a decision or whatever, I think you guys [the media] will know it as well. But now full commitment and focus is on Liverpool and to be successful this season. So we will see.”

Breaking: Virgil van Dijk signs new contract at Liverpool

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