Lewandowski named best FIFA player for 2020

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.