World Sports News in Brief

Football: Lewandowski beats Messi and Ronaldo to FIFA Best Player Award

Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski was named The Best FIFA Men's Player 2020 on Thursday (Dec 17), beating off competition from last year's winner Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)
Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)

Lewandowski, who won the German league and cup double as well as the Champions League with Bayern, finished as top scorer in all three competitions and won the award for the first time.

* Wayne Rooney's son, Kai, has signed for Manchester United, the former United and England striker said on Thursday (Dec 17). The 35-year-old Rooney posted a picture on Instagram alongside his wife Colleen and 11-year-old Kai, who held up a United No. 10 shirt - the number his dad wore for the Premier League club - with his name on the back.

* AS Roma rose to fourth place in Serie A with a 3-1 home victory over relegation-threatened Torino on Thursday, aided by an early red card for the visitors.

* Aston Villa were left to rue the woodwork and missed chances as they were held to a goalless draw in an entertaining Premier League game at home to Burnley on Thursday (Dec 17).

* Barcelona will face La Liga pacesetters Real Sociedad in the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup, while holders Real Madrid will take on Athletic Bilbao in the other tie. The draw, which pits together a final four comprised of the top two sides in La Liga from last season as well as the finalists of the Copa del Rey, took place at the Spanish Football Federation's (RFEF) AGM on Thursday.

* The Williams Formula One team appointed Jost Capito as chief executive on Thursday with acting principal Simon Roberts confirmed in his role. The former champions, now owned by US-based Dorilton Capital, said Capito will start work on Feb. 1 with Roberts reporting to him.

* Qatari broadcaster beIN Sports have struck a new media rights deal with the Premier League to telecast its matches in 24 countries in the Middle East and North Africa until 2025, the league announced on Thursday.

* Napoli forward Dries Mertens will be out for at least three weeks with an ankle injury suffered during Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat at Inter Milan, the club said on Thursday (Dec 17). The 33-year-old Belgium international was forced off in tears during the first half of the Serie A match at San Siro.

* RB Leipzig have signed highly-rated Hungary playmaker Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Salzburg on a 4.5-year contract, the German Bundesliga club said on Thursday (Dec 17). No transfer fee was disclosed but Sport Bild reported that Leipzig paid €20 million (US$24.51 million) for Szoboszlai.

Reuters