Poland's captain, Robert Lewandowski, was officially crowned the 2021 FIFA Best Men’s Player on Monday night. It was a landmark year for the striker, who continued his streak of success by adding another trophy to his collection. To secure his second FIFA award, he had to beat out heavyweights like Lionel Messi of PSG and Mohamed Salah of Liverpool. For Lewandowski, this recognition is a welcome reward after losing the Ballon d’Or to Messi in November.
The Bayern Munich star left the football world in awe last season, particularly after setting a new scoring benchmark in the Bundesliga. By winning this trophy, he has now matched Cristiano Ronaldo's record of two FIFA Best Player awards. The voting results highlighted his dominance, as Lewandowski's 82 votes dwarfed Messi's 39.
Lewandowski's performance for Bayern Munich during the 2021 season was nothing short of prolific. He managed to score 41 league goals, finally breaking the long-standing record held by Gerd Mueller. His overall tally for the year reached a staggering 69 goals for both club and country, placing him well above his peers.
Alexia Putellas of Spain took home the FIFA Best Women’s Player award, marking a phenomenal double victory for her. Having already secured the Ballon d’Or in November, the Barcelona captain added this title to her resume after beating out Sam Kerr from Chelsea and her own teammate, Jennifer Hermoso.
The 27-year-old midfielder enjoyed a stellar 2020-2021 campaign, cementing her status as a global powerhouse in the game. Under her leadership, Barcelona captured both the Spanish League title and the Champions League trophy.
In the coaching category, Chelsea's Thomas Tuchel was named the 2021 Manager of the Year, beating out high-profile names like Pep Guardiola and Roberto Mancini after leading the Blues to Champions League glory. Additionally, Chelsea's Emma Hayes won the best women's manager award, becoming the first woman in 12 years to lead a team to the Champions League final.
Senegal's Edouard Mendy was recognized as the Best Goalkeeper, prevailing over Manuel Neuer and Gianluigi Donnarumma. The award for the best goal went to Argentina's Erik Lamela for his stunning strike for Tottenham. Finally, the fair-play honor was awarded to the Danish national team and their medical staff for their heroic and professional response to Christian Eriksen's on-field collapse during Euro 2021.