Robert Lewandowski smiled into the camera in a smart dark suit and happily accepted the small silver trophy from the first well-wisher, Oliver Kahn. “Thank you very much, I feel very honored,” said the old and new world footballer from FC Bayern, who was named the best player of the year by the world association FIFA for the second time in a row on Monday evening.
“I am very, very proud and I feel very lucky,” added the 33-year-old Pole and also dedicated the award to his teammates. Unlike the Ballon d’Or, this time Lewandowski won against superstar Lionel Messi.
In addition to CEO Kahn, Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann and sports director Hasan Salihamidzic also congratulated on site – because of the corona pandemic, FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced the winner from distant Zurich via an online gala.
Lewandowski had improved Bayern legend Gerd Müller’s age-old goal record for goals in a season from 40 to 41 goals last season. “I wouldn’t have dared to dream of that,” said the Pole, who has scored as he wants again this season.
Messi, on the other hand, won the Copa América with Argentina and thus his first major title in the national jersey, the third finalist was Egyptian Mohamed Salah from Liverpool FC.
Tuchel is world coach
Thomas Tuchel was one of the honorees after the voting of selected players, national coaches, journalists and fans. The Chelsea coach was named world coach after the Blues triumphed in the Champions League.
The 48-year-old prevailed against big names: against the Italian European champion coach Roberto Mancini and Pep Guardiola from Manchester City. As world coach, Tuchel succeeds Jürgen Klopp, who received the award for his successes with Liverpool in 2020 and 2019.
“It’s been a very normal day so far, I’ve just come from training, but now you said my name,” said Tuchel, who was connected via video, at the digital gala on Monday evening to Arsène Wenger, who honored him. “It’s quite surreal, I’m overwhelmed and a little uncomfortable.”
Former Bundesliga coach Tuchel took over Chelsea a good year ago and won the premier class with the London club. Millions of fans worldwide, the coaches and captains of the national teams of the FIFA member associations and selected journalists were entitled to vote.
Since 2010, FIFA has also chosen the world coach of the year in addition to the world footballer. Jupp Heynckes (2013) and world champion coach Joachim Löw (2014) were able to prevail ahead of Tuchel and Klopp.
The Englishwoman Emma Hayes was honored as the best coach of a women’s team by Champions League finalists FC Chelsea.
Neuer missed second title as world goalkeeper
Meanwhile, Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has missed out on his second FIFA World Goalkeeper of the Year award. The 35-year-old from FC Bayern Munich, who won the election of the world association for 2020, had to admit defeat in the current edition of the Champions League winner Édouard Mendy from Chelsea.
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The Italian European champion Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain) also made it into the election final. Mendy was crowned at the world association’s gala on Monday evening.
Neuer had won the championship with the German record champions in the 2020/21 season, and FC Bayern had won the triple in the previous season.
Mendy (29/Senegal) played a major role in the triumph of German coach Thomas Tuchel’s London club in the premier class. Donnarumma (22), who joined Paris from AC Milan in the summer, saved two penalties in the EURO final against England in a shoot-out and was voted player of the tournament.
DFB kicker Berger also goes away empty-handed
In addition, the national players and the medical staff of the Danish football team were awarded the FIFA Fair Play Prize after the drama surrounding star player Christian Eriksen.
Eriksen collapsed on the pitch on June 12, 2021 during the European Championship group match between Denmark and Finland in Copenhagen and had to be revived. Meanwhile, the visibly shocked Denmark internationals formed a protective circle around their team-mate.
After the dramatic scenes on the lawn, the all-clear came later in the evening. A defibrillator has now been fitted to Eriksen, the midfielder wants to stay on the pitch and hopes to take part in this year’s World Cup in Qatar.
In the women’s game, Chilean Christiane Endler from Olympique Lyon beat German international Ann-Katrin Berger (FC Chelsea) and Canadian Stephanie Lynn Marie Labbé (Paris Saint-Germain).
Berger lost 4-0 to FC Barcelona with her club in the Champions League final in 2021. The captains and coaches of the national teams, selected journalists and fans from all over the world were entitled to vote. (dpa)
