Robert Lewandowski wins Laureus Exceptional Achievement award

Bestowed upon a sportswoman or sportsman who has reshaped the boundaries of sport and who has set new standards for those to follow, the award recognises Lewandowski's sporting prowess as well as his social work away from the pitch.

"I'd like to thank the Laureus Academy for the award," Lewandowski said. "It really means a lot to be recognised by such wonderful people, athletes, legends of the entire sporting world. It has a really special meaning for me as a sportsman and man.

"I know sportsmen don't get anything for free. There are no shortcuts to success in professional sports. If you want to be the best, you have to do your best. But I also believe that no athlete will ever succeed on his own. I remind myself of that whenever I win trophies or prizes. That's why I want to thank all those who support me."

Lewandowski has become one of the world's most recognisable footballers, winning a vast amount of team and individual prizes during a career that shows no signs of slowing. From enjoying domestic honours with Lech Poznan through to his Bundesliga journey with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern, Lewandowski has been one of football's focal points for almost 15 glorious years. The 33-year-old won a 10th Bundesliga with the mighty Bayern at the weekend, the club at which he has also won UEFA Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup honours.

Born in Warsaw, the 129-time Poland international is the Bundesliga's record foreign-born scorer with 310 goals, and trails only Gerd Müller (365) as the division's all-time top scorer. He boasts a plethora of scoring records in Germany's top flight, such as the player with most goals in a single campaign, achieved with his 41 goals in 2020/21, as well as most goals in a calendar year (43, 2021). He also recently won the Best FIFA Men's Player Award for the second year in succession.

Watch: The evolution of Robert Lewandowski

Away from the pitch, Lewandowski and his wife, Anna, gifted €1million (£923,000) to help the fight against coronavirus at the height of the pandemic. He has donated to child health institutions in Poland, and in 2014 was named UNICEF Goodwill ambassador. The world's best striker also led his country's boycott of their 2022 FIFA World Cup play-off with Russia in response to the invasion on Ukraine.

The Laureus Awards are presented by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, a global organisation involved in more than 150 charity projects supporting 500,000 young people. The awards showcase the work of Laureus Sport for Good, which uses the power of sport to end violence, discrimination and disadvantage, showing that sport can change the world. The awards - which were first staged in 2000 - celebrate the greatest achievements of individuals and teams across all sports.