Robert Lewandowski, Bayern Munich’s serial scorer and trophy holder, retained the title of best FIFA player of the year on Monday January 17 at The Best 2021 ceremony in Zurich.
The 33-year-old centre-forward has won the trophy for a second time after 2020, after a successful year on a personal level. He won ahead of the other two finalists: the Argentinian Messi (Paris-SG, ex-FC Barcelona), crowned seven times Ballon d’Or at the end of November, and the Egyptian Mohamed Salah (Liverpool). Cristiano Ronaldo, who in 2021 became the record holder for goals scored in the selection, was honored with a special prize. “It’s a dream, I have to thank my teammates, especially in the national team, with whom I have played for these almost twenty years”, commented the striker, author of 115 goals with Portugal.
The jury, made up of coaches, captains, journalists as well as supporters from all over the world, was seduced by Lewandowski’s stratospheric 2020-2021 season, author of 48 goals in all competitions.
“I am happy and very honored to win this trophy. I feel proud”, commented Lewandowski, who received the award in duplex. “This trophy also belongs to my partners, my coaches, we all work hard to win games and trophies. »
The great striker, nine-time German champion, has mostly walked in the Bundesliga with 41 goals in 29 games, one more than Gerd Müller, who held this record for half a century (since the 1971-1972 season). and to which a tribute was paid on Monday during this online gala organized in Zurich.
Consecration for Alexia Putellas
After receiving her Ballon d’Or in November, Spain’s Alexia Putellas, captain of FC Barcelona, won the title of best FIFA player of the year at The Best ceremony. 2021, signing a double.
The trophy awarded to the 27-year-old midfielder indirectly rewards all of Barça women, crowned both in the league, in the Spanish Cup and especially in the Champions League at the end of a 2020-2021 season. exceptional. Putellas takes over from England’s Lucy Bronze, a Manchester City player.
“I want to thank all my teammates because this trophy is for all of us”, she reacted. “This trophy will be a motivation for this year and I hope we will have a lot of success”, she added. “In Spain we have a lot of talent, we needed to work more and we needed time as well. It is not the result of a few months, it is the result of several years”, continued the winner.
Putellas becomes the second player to win the Golden Ball and The Best trophy double in the same year, two years after American world champion Megan Rapinoe. In this case, it is even a hat-trick for the Spanish international, named European player of the year 2021 by UEFA. “Alexia”, as it is written on the back of her jersey, won the title of best player on Monday, ahead of Chelsea’s Australian star, Sam Kerr, and her compatriot Jennifer Hermoso, FC Barcelona striker.