Defeating Messi And Salah, Lewandowski Wins The 2021 FIFA Best Player Award
JAKARTA - Bayern Munich and Poland national team striker Robert Lewandowski has been officially named the 2021 Player of the Year at "The Best FIFA Award". Meanwhile, Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo received a special award.
Lewandowski won the main award for the second year in a row after scoring a total of 69 goals during the 2021 calendar year, according to a report on FIFA's official website quoted by Antara, Tuesday, January 18.
The 33-year-old beat Paris Saint-Germain's Lionel Messi and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah for the 2021 men's player award.
Lewandowski broke the 49-year record held by the late Gerd Muller as the Bundesliga's top scorer in a calendar year with 43 goals in 34 league appearances.
Cristiano Ronaldo was awarded a special award at the event as the all-time leading international goalscorer.
Barcelona midfielder Alexia Putellas won the Women's Player of the Year award.
Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel won the FIFA Men's Coach of the Year award for guiding Chelsea to their second Champions League title after joining the London club in January.
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Erik Lamela won the FIFA Puskas award or the best goal in world football in 2021. The Argentine scored with his 'rabona' kick in the north London derby against Arsenal in March last year.
The best male goalkeeper award goes to Chelsea's Edouard Mendy after a successful first season with the Blues.
The Denmark national team and their staff won the FIFA Fair Play award for their quick response to assisting Christian Eriksen who suffered a heart attack on the pitch during the Euro 2020 match against Finland.
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In addition to Tuchel, Chelsea again won the best coach award. Emma Hayes was chosen as FIFA's best female coach after leading her team to the domestic treble trophy.
FIFA also released the team of the year 2021, with Ruben Dias and Kevin de Bruyne from Manchester City joining N'Golo Kante and Jorginho from Chelsea.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo, Messi and Lewandowski are still filling the front positions this year. The following is a list of players who are included in the best FIFA 2021 team:
Best FIFA team: Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan/PSG/Italy); David Alaba (Bayern Munich/Real Madrid/Austria), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy), Ruben Dias (Man City/Portugal); Kevin de Bruyne (Man City/Belgium), Jorginho (Chelsea/Italy), N'Golo Kante (Chelsea/France); Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus/Man Utd/Portugal), Erling Braut Haaland (Borussia Dortmund/Norway), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich/Poland), Lionel Messi (Barcelona/PSG/Argentina).