By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
After scoring his 300th Bundesliga goal last weekend, FC Bayern München’s Robert Lewandowski was honoured as FIFA Best Men’s Player for the second consecutive year.
The award comes off the back of another landmark year for Lewandowski. As well as breaking Gerd Müller’s long-standing single scoring record at the end of the 2020-21 season, RL9 went on to eclipse Müller’s record for goals in a calendar year, with a total of 43 in 2021.
It is not just the Bundesliga where Lewandowski leads the way. The Bayern front man was Europe’s top scorer in 2021, having come out on top over the course of the 2020-21 season. The Poland international is also topping the charts this season and is currently on 23 goals, five ahead of his closest challenger, Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick.
Lewandowski doesn’t just perform for his club. He is also Poland’s record scorer, having scored 74 goals since his debut in 2008. Poland’s Sportsman of the Year has registered 11 goals in 12 appearances this year – including three at UEFA Euro 2020 – with the 2022 FIFA World Cup play-offs next on the agenda.
After taking his tally to 300 Bundesliga goals against 1. FC Köln on Saturday, Lewandowski’s eyes must be trained on the all-time Bundesliga goal record. Only one man has more; Gerd Müller stands alone atop the scoring charts with 365 goals to his name.
Lewandowski at a glance:
- Bundesliga Appearances: 369
- Goals: 300
- Bundesliga Top Scorer Award: 6
- Bundesliga Titles: 9
- DFB Pokals: 4
- UEFA Champions League Titles: 1
- FIFA Best Men’s Player Awards: 2
Lewandowski was also included in the FIFA FIFPRO Men’s World 11, lining up alongside Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland and former Bayern teammate David Alaba.
Serge Gnabry on Lewandowski:
“I think for the last two years, he was probably the most consistently performing player. In my eyes – obviously, he is my teammate, but he has been the most consistent. He has scored so many goals which is incredible. He also broke a couple records, so I think he deserves it.”
Julian Nagelsmann on Lewandowski:
“It is well deserved for him – as I have mentioned for all the other possible personal titles. It is always deserved for him because he did so well over the last couple of seasons in the Bundesliga. He is also doing it this season and another three goals (against 1. FC Köln). He loves these situations when he can get the ball in the number 10, give it out to the wing, then follow the ball into the box. He is very dangerous, with both feet, with his head – at the end, it’s three goals again – important for us and important for him.”
Jürgen Klinsmann on Lewandowski:
“He’s a fantastic goalscorer and deserves every compliment in the world. Beating the record from Gerd Müller says it all. The titles he has won with Bayern, it’s just insane! But one of the major characteristics we have seen from Robert Lewandowski over many years now is his hunger. When he scores his first one, he wants the second or third. This is what fascinates me – just his incredible desire to score again and again and again. It seems like he’s never satisfied! That is the difference between a top striker, a great player, and another level where Lewandowski has catapulted himself over the last few years – it is fantastic to see.”