5 facts that prove Lewandowski was the best in 2021

There can only be one winner! On Monday evening, the best men’s footballer in the world will be crowned at ‘The Best FIFA Football Awards’. Current holder Robert Lewandowski is again among the three finalists this year - fcbayern.com brings you five outstanding statistics from the past year which prove why the Pole was the best player in the world in 2021:

1. Europe’s top goalscorer

What a figure! With 58 goals in all competitions, Lewandowski was the most prolific goalscorer in Europe’s top five leagues in the calendar year 2021 - and by some margin ahead of second-placed Kylian Mbappé (43). For the Polish striking star, it was his most successful year in terms of goals since his arrival in the Bundesliga. His previous best was 48 goals in 2019. His 41 league goals in 2020/21 also earned him the ‘Golden Shoe’ prize for the first time.

2. Statistically no game without a Lewy goal

The 33-year-old found the net every 69 minutes on average in his 47 competitive appearances in 2021 - in other words, at least once a match. That was also the best rate among all the players from Europe’s top five leagues who played at least 550 minutes in 2021. He even managed to surpass the high expectations on him as the reigning Best FIFA Men’s Player, scoring four more goals than his xG value - a player’s expected goals based on the quality of goalscoring chances - had predicted.

3. Bundesliga records (perhaps) for eternity

With 43 Bundesliga goals in the year and 41 goals in the 2020/21 season, Lewandowski broke two records belonging to Bayern legend Gerd Müller which had stood for nearly 50 years and were long considered out of reach. As well as that, Lewandowski overtook Klaus Fischer as the best away goalscorer in the history of Germany’s top flight with away goals 117 to 120 in December.

4. Best player at Club World Cup

Thanks to their success at the FIFA Club World Cup in February, Bayern became the second club ever after Barcelona to scoop six trophies in the space of 12 months. The Reds were led by their goal-getter Lewandowski, who along with the main trophy also brought home the Golden Ball award for the player of the tournament.

5. 100% record in Champions League

Lewandowski played in eight Champions League matches in 2021 and won all eight, scoring 11 goals in the process. The Poland captain is currently on an incredible 22-game winning run in Europe’s premier club competition - something no player has ever achieved before.

Manuel Neuer has been nominated for The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper award - here’s why our number one also deserves to win: