OneFootball
Lewis Ambrose·1 April 2021
OneFootball
Lewis Ambrose·1 April 2021
Our countdown of the top 25 players in the world comes to a close today, which means we can finally reveal our best player in the world is âŠ
Last season: 6th
Robert Lewandowski has long been considered one of the best strikers in the world. And, over the last few years, has widely been considered one of the best players in the world.
But now, over the last 18 months or so, he has been the best player in the world.
Lewandowski was notoriously focused on self-improvement and his goal tally just a few seasons back, flirting with Real Madrid and criticising his Bayern team-mates for not creating enough chances when he didnât finish as the Bundesligaâs top goalscorer in 2017.
Over the past few seasons he has become more selfless, more involved with his team-mates, more committed to Bayern and not just himself.
And it has brought him everything he ever wanted.
No player in the world was as influential across all competitions as Lewandowski in the 2019/20 season. Even as Bayern made a rocky start to the season he scored in all 11 of the opening Bundesliga matches, setting a new record.
By the time Niko KovaÄ was fired, Lewandowski already had 20 goals in 15 appearances in all competitions.
Hansi Flick took over and the striker kept scoring, netting a further 35 goals in 32 appearances, and led Bayern to the treble, before the season was over.
Those goals included 15 in the Champions League alone, scoring in every appearance he made until the final as Bayern went on to clench the title for the first time since 2013.
And the 2020/21 season has been much the same.
So far this campaign, Lewandowski has 42 goals in 36 appearances and is closing in on Bundesliga history.
With eight games remaining, he is on 35 Bundesliga goals, just five adrift of the single-season record of 40 set by Gerd MĂŒller way back in 1971/72.
He is injured now, and that could hurt Bayernâs title push as well as the Poleâs own efforts to make history, but donât bet against him.
He doesnât rely on service but his movement is fantastic when service is there. He scores with both feet and his head. He scores volleys and one-on-ones and goals from nothing. He is, simply, clinical. And still getting better at 32.
Lewandowski has always been a complete forward but he now also finds himself at the very top of the pack. The best there is.