English Section

Football: Poland’s Lewandowski beats Messi to prestigious prize

23.12.2022 07:00
Polish star striker Robert Lewandowski has won the 2022 Golden Foot Award, which honours players with outstanding footballing achievements as well as personality. 
Robert Lewandowski bids farewell to the World Cup.
Robert Lewandowski bids farewell to the World Cup.Photo: PAP/Abaca

Lewandowski collected the prize at a ceremony in Monte Carlo on Thursday, Polish state news agency PAP reported. 

The Poland captain won the vote among fans, journalists and football officials, beating a host of fellow nominees who included France’s Karim Benzema, England's Harry Kane and the newly crowned World Cup champion, Lionel Messi of Argentina.

Lewandowski joined the likes of Italy’s Roberto Baggio, Ronaldinho of Brazil and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo among the winners of the Golden Foot Award, which is given to players over the age of 28. 

‘Very happy and very proud’

The Barcelona forward said after receiving the prize: “I'm very happy, I'm very proud. It’s a great honour. You only have to look at the list of past winners of the Golden Foot Award.”  

In line with tradition, Lewandowski left his footprints on world football’s walk of fame, dubbed the Champions Promenade, on the Monaco seafront, news outlets reported.   

The 2022 Golden Foot Award represents another accolade for the Polish goal machine, who last month collected the annual European Golden Shoe award for the highest scorer in European football. 

Lewandowski was in May crowned the top scorer of Germany's Bundesliga premier league for the 2021/2022 season, his seventh such trophy in Germany, where he played until the end of last season.

The 34-year-old, who captains Poland’s national team, in January won world soccer governing body FIFA’s 2021 Best Men's Player award, beating Messi and Egypt's Mohamed Salah.

(pm/gs)

Source: PAP, TVP Sport, goldenfoot.com