Lewandowski is a world footballer – Klopp is a world coach

The 32-year-old Lewandowski beat Lionel Messi from FC Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo from Juventus in the vote by the world association FIFA.

Lewandowski's initial reaction was enthusiastic. “It's an incredible feeling, I'm very proud and very satisfied. A big day. This award also belongs to my teammates and coaches,” said the goalgetter.

With his triumph, the Pole is the only player alongside Luka Modric (2018) who has had the upper hand in this election against Messi and Ronaldo in the recent past. Otherwise, the Argentine (6 wins) and the Portuguese (5) shared the world footballer honors between themselves. Winning the trophy in the era of Messi and Ronaldo “means a lot to me,” emphasized Lewandowski. Top scorer in all competitions Bayern won the German championship, the DFB Cup and the Champions League title in 2020. Lewandowski was top scorer in all three competitions.

With his brilliant performances, Lewandowski achieved a first: for the first time, a Bundesliga professional won the prestigious FIFA World Player of the Year election.

Robert Lewandowski with the European Cup. © APA/afp / MATTHEW CHILDS

The votes of the national coaches and captains of the national teams of the FIFA member associations as well as selected journalists and fans worldwide were decisive in the vote. Voting was possible until December 9th. Klopp prevails against Flick When it comes to coaches, Jürgen Klopp prevails against Bayern's triple coach Hansi Flick. Klopp won the coaching title for the second time in a row. After triumphing in the Champions League in 2019, he led the Reds to their first English championship in 30 years last season. “We didn't dream for 30 years, but for a few. The fact that it worked in the summer was absolutely extraordinary,” said the former BVB coach, smartly dressed in a dark suit, and added with a view to the Corona crisis: “We all had a very special year - unfortunately not in a positive way .”

Klopp and Flick were tied in the election - the votes of the national coaches tipped the scales in favor of the former Dortmund player. “I was actually surprised, I have to say,” said Klopp. “It’s a huge honor and hard to believe, to be honest.”

Virtual celebration: Jürgen Klopp.- © APA/afp / VALERIANO DI DOMENICO

The Dutchwoman Sarina Wiegman, who most recently coached her country's national football team and now works for England, was recognized as the best coach. Englishwoman Lucy Bronze, who now plays for Manchester City and won the Champions League with Olympique Lyonnais in the summer, was named World Footballer of the Year. New world goalkeeper for the first time Bayern's Manuel Neuer was honored as the best goalkeeper of the year. Neuer appeared in a black suit with a turtleneck sweater and smiled into the camera. “It's one of the best years of my career, it's great what we've achieved,” said the 2014 world champion. He won the award introduced in 2017 for the first time and added with a view to the Champions League final tournament of the premier class in Portugal: “ Especially what we achieved in Lisbon.”

Neuer prevailed against the Brazilian Alisson Becker from English champion Liverpool FC and the Slovenian Jan Oblak from Atlético Madrid.

Four triple Bayern players made it into FIFA's world selection: Alphonso Davies, Joshua Kimmich, Thiago (now Liverpool) and Lewandowski. The best goal of the year was scored by South Korean Son Heung-Min with his solo run for Tottenham against Burnley on December 7, 2019.

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Lewandowski is a world footballer – Klopp is a world coach

Robert Lewandowski has been voted world footballer after his exceptional year in 2020 with triple winner FC Bayern. When it comes to coaches, Jürgen Klopp narrowly beats Hansi Flick. Bayern's Manuel Neuer became the world goalkeeper.

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