Robert Lewandowski

Winner

Academy Exceptional Achievement Award 2022

Robert

Lewandowski

Football

Poland

One of football’s greatest strikers, he scored his 41st goal in the Bundesliga for Bayern Munich in the last minute of the last day of the 2020/21 season to surpass Gerd Muller’s record of 40 goals, which dated back to 1971/72. Played a key role in Bayern’s ninth successive Bundesliga success and won the European Golden Shoe. Began the 2021/22 season by reaching the landmark of 300 goals for Bayern in all competitions. On December 17, Lewandowski set the Bundesliga record for most goals in a calendar year with his 43rd goal. He has now scored more than 500 senior career goals for club and country. In November, he finished second in the 2021 Ballon d'Or behind Lionel Messi.

I would like to thank the Laureus Academy for the Award. It really means a lot to be recognised and appreciated by such wonderful people, athletes, legends from all over the world of sport. It has a very special meaning to me as an athlete and a man.

ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI

What Robert Lewandowski said: “I would like to thank the Laureus Academy for the Award. It really means a lot to be recognised and appreciated by such wonderful people, athletes, and legends from all over the world of sport. It has a very special meaning to me as an athlete and a man. I know that athletes don't get anything for free. There are no shortcuts to success in professional sport. If you want to be the best, you have to do your best. But I also believe that no athlete will ever achieve success alone. I remember it when I get trophies or win awards. That’s why I want to thank everyone who supports me.

“Professional sport is a great passion and joy, but not only fun. Responsibility comes with success. Nelson Mandela said: 'Sport has the power to change the world'. Let’s remember and repeat this message loudly, especially these days, when innocent people in Ukraine are dying. There is no sport without peace.”

What Bayern Munich Head Coach Julian Nagelsmann said: “This Award is well deserved. You are the best forward in the world. You score a lot of goals every year and you help us to reach our big aims. But with Robert it’s not only his performances, but also his social work off the pitch. He is a role model.

“Robert is extraordinary on the pitch and very hungry to improve every day. I can tell you one story about him. We had a very hard training session, very exhausting. The upcoming game Robert scored four goals. Then he told me he wanted a training session like that every week, so he could score four goals every time, and he could score 80 goals at the end of the season.”

WHAT LAUREUS WORLD SPORTS ACADEMY MEMBERS SAY:

Brazilian World Cup great Cafu says: “I think it unanimous. I can't imagine anyone who didn’t vote for Lewandowski as the best footballer of the season. He really made a difference, an extraordinary player, a player who maintains the quality of his play for many, many years, and confirmed that again last year, and this year, he continues to show that he knows what to do. He is an athlete who really deserves this Award and to be in the spotlight around the world. He is an extraordinary player, so much so that he won two years consecutively the Best Player in the world. He’s a centre-forward who scores goals, a centre-forward who plays outside the goal, a centre-forward who in the moment you need him, ends up resolving the game. So for me Lewandowski is one of the best players in the world.”

Brilliant Dutch footballer Ruud Gullit says: “I think Robert has been very unlucky that he is an era with Ronaldo and Messi. I think that he has been undervalued a little bit. They didn't notice him that much. I think that that's a pity. I think he has done an extremely good job with Bayern Munich, scoring so many goals, being so important. I think the thing that is unlucky for him is that Poland didn't manage to win, as a country, a major prize because that will give him even more status. We know with Messi, that was the thing that was always missing - and I think that is the reason why he won the Ballon d'Or. Nevertheless, Lewandowski won the Best FIFA Player of the Year, so at least, that was some sort of recognition for him. But I admire him a lot as a player. Very good player. Very diverse. He can do anything as a striker.”