Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski exacted his revenge for the 2021 Ballon d’Or snub by beating Lionel Messi to The Best FIFA Men’s Footballer of the Year award. Meanwhile, Chelsea’s Thomas Tuchel and Emma Hayes took home the Coaches’ honors.
Lewandowski was named The Best FIFA Men’s Player for the second season running at the year-end awards. The Bayern hitman pipped Cristiano Ronaldo to the gong last season and did the same to Messi this time around – albeit only by four points. Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah came in third with 39, nine behind the winner, Lewandowski.
Meanwhile, Edouard Mendy’s meteoric rise to the top culminated in him being named The Best FIFA Goalkeeper for the year 2021. The Chelsea custodian helped his side to their second UEFA Champions League title last May and, along with his superb domestic performances, was awarded in recognition of the same.
Chelsea were also the big winners in The Best FIFA Coach of the year categories, both in Men’s and Women’s football. Having led the Men’s team to the Champions League title, Tuchel took the prize home with him – ahead of Roberto Mancini and Pep Guardiola.
Surprisingly, Chelsea FC Women’s head coach Emma Hayes was also named the winner in her category ahead of Barcelona’s Lluis Cortes, whose side beat Hayes’ in the Champions League final last season. Barcelona did have something to celebrate as Alexia Putellas was named the winner of The Best Women’s Player category.
Meanwhile, Christiane Endler – formerly of Paris Saint-Germain and currently of Olympique Lyonnais – was named The Best Women’s Goalkeeper of the year 2021.
Tottenham Hotspur made history as they became the only side to have a player win the Puskas Award two years in a row; Erik Lamela – now at Sevilla – beat the competition for his rabona flick goal against rivals Arsenal last season.
Furthermore, Denmark and Finland supporters were named the collective winners of the FIFA Fan Award for their involvement in and after the Christian Eriksen cardiac arrest episode at the 2020 Euro.
Cristiano did not return home empty-handed either, as the Manchester United star was presented with the FIFA Special Award for an Outstanding Career Achievement, having broken the record for most international goals by a male footballer last year. Canada’s Christine Sinclair took the same award for repeating the feat in women’s football.
