Bayern excos eulogize Lewandowski after beating Messi to FIFA Award

Poland and Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski was showered with praises by the top executive of Bayern Munich after he was named 'The Best' by FIFA for a second year in a row ahead of Lionel Messi and Mo Salah.

Bayern president Herbert Hainer said "Congratulations to Lewandowski! He's made history once again by being named the best player in the world. He has not let up for a single moment since his award last year. He is a perpetual-scoring machine. The fact he has now been honoured for the second time in a row is further proof that he is one of the all-time greats in football history.”

Bayern Chief Executive Officer Oliver Kahn said Lewandowski is a phenomenon. “Once he's reached one peak, he's already thinking about the next. I, therefore more than justified that he's won the honour of the Best FIFA Men's Player for the second time in a row.”

Board member Hasan Salihamidzic said Lewandowski “deserves this title. It's a shame that Manuel didn't also win. We all would've wished it for him. For me, he was the best, but of course also congratulations to Edouard Mendy. Everyone at FC Bayern knows that Robert and Manuel have played a major role in our club's success.”

A humble Lewandowski thanked everyone that has contributed to his success, “Thank you very much. I am very honoured to win this trophy and feel proud. I know it belongs to my teammates. We all work hard to win the games. It is special to work with these guys around me. 'I never dream about breaking this record [of Gerd Muller's]. To score 41 in 29 games - if you ask me that a few years ago if it is possible I would tell you it is impossible. I also say to him thank you. He set so many records and to me, it was always the next step to try and break it.'”

FIFA'S 'THE BEST' AWARDS 2022 

Best men's player: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich and Poland)

Best women's player: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona and Spain)

Best men's coach: Thomas Tuchel (Chelsea)

Best women's coach: Emma Hayes (Chelsea)

Best men's goalkeeper: Edouard Mendy (Chelsea and Senegal)

Best women's goalkeeper: Christiane Endler (Lyon and Chile)

Best men's special award: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Juventus and Portugal)

Best women's special award: Christine Sinclair (Portland Thorns and Canada)

Puskas Award: Erik Lamela (Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur)

Fan award: Denmark and Finland fans

Fair Play Award: Denmark national team/Danish medical team and coaching staff 

FIFPRO men's world XI:

Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain)

Defenders: David Alaba (Bayern Munich, Real Madrid), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus) and Ruben Dias (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Jorginho (Chelsea) and N’Golo Kante (Chelsea)

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus, Manchester United), Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) and Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Paris Saint-Germain)