FIFA Awards: Lewandowski beats CR7 and Messi to top prize, Son wins Puskas
World football’s top players and managers of 2020 were recognized on Thursday at The Best FIFA Football Awards show. Below, theScore runs down all the winners of the various trophies that were handed out.
Best Men’s Player
Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich and Poland)
In an unparalleled 2019-20 season, Lewandowski finished as top scorer in the Bundesliga, Champions League, and German Cup, leading Bayern to the treble with 55 goals in all. The 32-year-old would’ve been a favorite for the Ballon d’Or had it not been canceled due to COVID-19. Lewandowski, who was already named UEFA’s Player of the Season, beat out former winners and generational greats Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Best Women’s Player
Lucy Bronze (Manchester City and England)
Bronze, 29, returned to Manchester City after winning all there was to win with Lyon over the last three seasons. The accomplished full-back outshined former teammate Wendie Renard and Chelsea’s Pernille Harder to claim this year’s award. Bronze was also named the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year in March.
Best Men’s Coach
Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)
Klopp defends his title as FIFA’s Best Men’s Coach. The affable German led Liverpool to their first top-flight title in 30 years, steering the Reds to first place with 32 wins out of 38 matches. Klopp also helped turn Anfield into a fortress – even without the presence of fans. Liverpool are currently unbeaten in their last 66 league matches at their home ground.
Best Women’s Coach
Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands)
Wiegman led the Dutch national team to the final of the 2019 Women’s World Cup, where they bowed out against the United States. But the trip to FIFA’s showpiece event galvanized the public in the Netherlands and increased interest in the women’s game. Wiegman is now set to take over as manager of England’s national team in 2021.
Best Men’s Goalkeeper
Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich and Germany)
Neuer enjoyed a remarkable comeback in 2020. Once at risk of losing his No. 1 status on Bayern Munich and the German national team, the World Cup winner reclaimed his place as one of the game’s best shot-stoppers. Neuer won the treble with Bayern and played every minute of their triumphant Champions League campaign.
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Sarah Bouhaddi (Lyon and France)
Bouhaddi clinched a seventh career Champions League title in August, backstopping Lyon to a 3-1 victory in the final. The 34-year-old was named UEFA’s Goalkeeper of the Season, having kept five clean sheets in the tournament.
Puskas Award (best goal)
Heung-Min Son: Tottenham vs. Burnley (Dec. 7, 2019)
Tottenham’s Son, who beat out Flamengo’s Giorgian De Arrascaeta and Luis Suarez for the Puskas Award, earned worldwide acclaim for his spectacular solo effort against Burnley. The 28-year-old skipped past several defenders before streaking on goal and finding the back of the net.
Men’s FIFA FIFPro World11
Alisson Becker; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Sergio Ramos, Alphonso Davies; Joshua Kimmich, Kevin De Bruyne, Thiago Alcantara; Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski, Cristiano Ronaldo
? Here is the FIFA @FIFPro Men’s #World11 2020:
? @Alissonbecker, @TrentAA, @SergioRamos, @VirgilvDijk, @AlphonsoDavies, @DeBruyneKev, @Thiago6, Joshua Kimmich, Lionel Messi, @lewy_official and @Cristiano
? What a team! pic.twitter.com/9yJMGr4A6M
— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) December 17, 2020
Women’s FIFA FIFPro World11
Christiane Endler; Lucy Bronze, Wendie Renard, Millie Bright; Tobin Heath, Veronica Bouquet, Barbara Bonansea, Megan Rapinoe; Delphine Cascarino, Vivianne Miedema, Pernille Harder
? Here’s your 2020 FIFA @FIFPro Women’s #World11 ????
? Congratulations @TIANEendler, @LucyBronze, @WRenard, @Mdawg1bright, @delphsix, @barbarabonansea, @VeroBoquete, @mPinoe, @PernilleMHarder, @VivianneMiedema, @TobinHeath #TheBest | #FIFAFootballAwards pic.twitter.com/7r0V4CPxC5
— FIFA Women’s World Cup (@FIFAWWC) December 17, 2020
