FIFA The Best Awards: Robert Lewandowski pips Leo Messi to bag top prize, Cristiano Ronaldo also honoured

Source: Reuters |Updated: Jan 18, 2022, 09:36 AM IST

Bayern Munich’s Polish striker Robert Lewandowski won the FIFA Best Men’s Player award for 2021 with Barcelona’s Spanish midfielder Alexia Putellas winning the FIFA Best Women’s Player prize at Monday’s ceremony.

The prolific Lewandowski won the award for the second straight year after a season in which he beat Gerd Mueller’s 49-year old record of 40 goals in a single Bundesliga campaign.

The 27-year-old Putellas was at the heart of the Barcelona women’s team which won the Spanish league and the UEFA Champions League.

Chelsea won both the awards for ‘The Best’ coach, with Thomas Tuchel winning the men’s award and Emma Hayes named the best women’s coach.

 #TheBest FIFA Men’s Player Award 2021 goes to #RobertLewandowski!

Fans, players, coaches and journalists have spoken, naming @lewy_official as #TheBest! pic.twitter.com/21hfIDR3rI
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) January 17, 2022

Tuchel had guided Chelsea to the Champions League title after taking over the club in January while Hayes won the Women’s Super League, FA Cup and League Cup treble in England.

The West London club enjoyed further recognition with their Senegal international Edouard Mendy winning the Best Men’s Goalkeeper award.

Chile and Olympique Lyonnais’ Christiane Endler was named The Best Women’s Goalkeeper.

The Puskas Award for ‘The Best’ goal of the year was won by Argentine Erik Lamela, now with Spanish club Sevilla, for his goal for Tottenham Hotspur against Arsenal. 

Meanwhile, Manchester United ace Cristiano Ronaldo was also rewarded with a ‘special’ accolade for becoming the top-scoring male footballer in international football.