Robert Lewandowski succesfully defended his FIFA’s Best Men’s Player award on Monday. Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas was named the Best Women’s Player award.
The Best FIFA Football Awards 2021 were held in Zurich, Switzerland.
Chelsea swept the coaching awards in a year when its men’s and women’s teams led by Thomas Tuchel and Emma Hayes reached their Champions League finals.
Also read: Robert Lewandowski thanks fans, says winning FIFA Best Men’s Player massive honour
Tuchel again finished ahead of Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola to repeat the result of their European title game. Guardiola placed third having led City to the English Premier League title, and into a runaway lead this season after beating Chelsea on Saturday.
On an evening of surprises and quirky choices, a global vote of players to choose their World XI lineups were curious.
None of the three candidates for the women’s individual prize was voted on to the best women’s team, which also lacked any players from Barcelona.
Also read | 2021 Best FIFA Football Awards: Cristiano Ronaldo wins FIFA Special Award
Salah was also missing from the men’s team lineup which had an unusual 3-3-4 formation that allowed a forward line of Messi, Lewandowski, Erling Haaland and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo was also the star guest with FIFA in Zurich. The Portugal star appeared in person to close the show and collect a special award for breaking the all-time scoring record in men’s national team soccer.
Two awards went to Denmark for the reaction in the stadium to national team star Christian Eriksen collapsing due to cardiac arrest at a European Championship game in Copenhagen.
FIFA’s fair play prize went to the Denmark players and medical staff who protected and treated Eriksen. The award for best fans was shared by Denmark and Finland whose supporters chanted Eriksen’s name as he was treated on the field before it was clear he would recover.
Also read | The Best FIFA Football Awards 2021: Full list of winners
The Puskas Award for best goal went to Érik Lamela for the rabona flick he scored for Tottenham against Arsenal in the Premier League in March.
The best goalkeeper prizes were won by Edouard Mendy of Chelsea and Chile’s Christiane Endler, who moved from PSG to Lyon in the offseason.
The Best Men’s Player award: Robert Lewandowski
The Best Women’s Player award: Alexia Putellas
Puskas Award: Erik Lamela – Arsenal vs Tottenham, Premier League (14 March 2021)
The Best Women’s Goalkeeper: Christiane Endler (Chiles, PSG and Lyon)
The Best Men’s Goalkeeper: Edouard Mendy
The Men’s Best team: Donnarumma, Alaba, Bonucci, Ruben Dias, Jorginho, Kante, Kevin de Bruyne, Cristiano Ronaldo, Haaland, Lewandowski, Messi
Best XI: Endler, Bronze, Renard, Bright, Eriksson, Banini, Lloyd, Bonansea, Miedema, Marta, Alex Morgan
The Best FIFA Special Award: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Manchester United)
With inputs from the Associated Press
