Bayern Munich’s record-breaking striker Robert Lewandowski retained FIFA’s Best Men’s
Player of the Year award Monday night at The Best of 2021 ceremony.
Barcelona captain Alexia Putellas collected the award for the top female athlete.
The 33-year-old Lewandowski was the one who broke the Bundesliga goal record in the last
season, took home the award twice, beating Argentine Lionel Messi of Paris Saint-Germain
and Egyptian Mohamed Salah of Liverpool.
It was a reassurance of sorts for Lewandowski, the Polish striker who fell in the final to
Messi to win winning the Ballon d’Or in November.
For Putellas, the event was an award double, as the Spaniard was victorious over Barcelona
teammate Jennifer Hermoso and Chelsea’s Australian striker Sam Kerr, just as she did in
her Ballon d’Or.
The midfielder of 27 years had an outstanding season in 2020-2021 with Barcelona.
She led the Catalans to win the Spanish League and Cup double and play in the Champions
League.
Chelsea’s Edouard Mendy and Christiane Endler from Lyon were awarded the goalkeeping
award.
Chelsea has won the coaching and player awards via Thomas Tuchel and Emma Hayes.
Erik Lamela, now of Sevilla, was awarded the top goalscorer award in the competition for
his nifty shot from a rabona Spurs at Tottenham’s North London derby.
The medical team and players from Denmark that had to handle Christian Eriksen’s fall on
the field during the Euro received the “fair-play” award.
