Fifa Best 2021 LIVE: Robert Lewandowski wins men’s player of the year as Alexia Putellas scoops women’s prize
Live updates, nominees and winners from Fifa’s top awards ceremony
Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski won the men’s player award for the second year running.
The 33-year-old Poland international set a new record for most Bundesliga goals in a calendar year with his 43rd goal in December, breaking the record set by Gerd Muller in 1972. Lewandowski, winner of the men’s award in 2020, also became the first player in Bundesliga history to finish top scorer in four consecutive seasons.
Barcelona midfielder Alexia Putellas was named women’s player of the year, adding the accolade to her Ballon d’Or triumph. Putellas, 27, captained Barcelona to the treble, with the Catalan side winning the Women’s Champions League, Spanish league and Copa de la Reina last term.
Follow for live updates and reaction from the ceremony:
More reaction to the Women’s World XI
Alexia Putellas won the women’s player of the year which rounded off a good awards season for the star as she claimed the Ballon d’Or as well. This came after she won the domestic treble and the Champions League with Barcelona last season.
However, she wasn’t included in the World XI which has caused huge discussion on social media. In fact, none of the shortlisted women’s player of the year candidates were included in the World XI.
Here is some more reaction about it:
So why did the men’s World XI have four forwards?
Some people were thrown that four strikers were selected for the men’s World XI. Cristiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski, Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland were all named which was a bit rogue.
The players vote for the World XI and so Fifa and Fifpro do not select the team. Journalist Rik Sharma explains: “the goalkeeper, as well as the three defenders, three midfielders and three forwards who received the most votes will be selected for the World 11.
“The remaining spot will be assigned to the outfield player with the next highest number of votes who is not selected already.”
However some fans are surprised Ronaldo was selected over the like of Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema.
What an evening for Chelsea!
Chelsea got the double in coaching with Emma Hayes and Thomas Tuchel picking up their respective awards.
They also claimed the men’s goalkeeper as Edouard Mendy won the gong which meant the club benefitted most out of all the domestic sides.
It’s easy to see why as the women’s team won the domestic treble and the men’s claimed the Champions League.
For all the details, read below:
Chelsea sweep Fifa Best coaching awards as Thomas Tuchel and Emma Hayes win prizes
Both managers guided their teams to European finals last season
Women’s World XI raises a few eyebrows
The Women’s World XI has caused some fans and reporters to raise an eyebrow, particularly as none of the shortlisted women’s players of the year were included.
The bigger shock though was the lack of Spanish players, especially Barcelona stars, were included. Barcelona completely dominated European football last season by winning the domestic treble and the Champions League.
The Women’s World XI was: Christiane Endler; Lucy Bronze, Wendy Renard, Millie Bright, Magdalena Eriksson; Estefania Banini, Carli Lloyd, Barbara Bonansea; Vivianne Miedema, Marta, Alex Morgan.
Here are some tweets that show the bewilderment:
A little recap
So the reports of the favourites were correct with Robert Lewandowski and Alexia Putellas winning the men and women’s player of the year at the Fifa Best awards.
Slightly strange Putellas wasn’t included in the women’s world XI but Lewandowski is walking away with two awards as he was named in the men’s XI.
If you missed it here are the details from those awards:
Alexia Putellas wins Fifa Best Award 2021 to add to Ballon d’Or success
The Barcelona captain becomes the first Spanish player to win the award after beating teammate Jennifer Hermoso and Chelsea striker Sam Kerr to the prize
Robert Lewandowski wins Fifa Best Award 2021 for second year in a row
Lewandowski defends his Fifa Best title after finishing runner-up to Lionel Messi at the 2021 Ballon d’Or awards
Round up of all the awards!
There have been a lot of awards this evening and so here’s a round up of all the winners.
Special award: Christine Sinclair
Special award: Cristiano Ronaldo
Men’s player of the year: Robert Lewandowski
Women’s player of the year: Alexia Putellas
Women’s coach: Emma Hayes
Men’s coach: Thomas Tuchel
The women’s world XI is: Christiane Endler; Lucy Bronze, Wendy Renard, Millie Bright, Magdalena Eriksson; Estefania Banini, Carli Lloyd, Barbara Bonansea; Vivianne Miedema, Marta, Alex Morgan
The men’s world XI is: Gianluigi Donnarumma; David Alaba, Ruben Dias, Leonardo Bonucci; Jorginho, N’Golo Konte, Kevin de Bruyne; Cristiano Ronaldo, Erling Haaland, Robert Lewandowski, Lionel Messi
Best fans: Denmark and Finland fans
Fair Play: Denmark’s medical team and players
Puskas: Eric Lamela
Men’s goalkeeper: Edouard Mendy
Women’s goalkeeper: Christiane Endler
Fifa Best awards - Cristiano Ronaldo wins a special award
Cristiano Ronaldo has won a special award for becoming the men’s international highest scorer with 115.
We heard earlier from Christine Sinclair, who is the most international goals with 185.
Ronaldo, who is in the studio, said: “This is very beautiful.
“I never thought I’d beat the record. I’m proud, it’s a special award from Fifa. I have to say thank you to my family, my wife and kids.”
Fifa Best awards - Robert Lewandowski men’s player of the year
Now this one could cause a few debates!
Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski and Mo Salah are all shortlisted.
Lewandowski has retained his award!
“Thank you I am very honoured to win this trophy. I feel very proud. This belongs to my teammates and coaches.
“I say thank you to Gerd Muller, the next step was to try and break that record.”
Fifa Best awards - Alexia Putellas women’s player of the year
Gianni Infantino presented the women’s player of the year.
Barcelona’s Jennifer Hermoso and Alexia Putellas and Chelsea’s Sam Kerr were shortlisted.
Alexia Putellas has won and backs up her Ballon d’Or, she is the first Spanish women’s footballer to win the award.
“I’d like to thank all my teammates and congratulate them as this award is for all of us. This award will make us play with the same motivation this season,” she said.
Fifa Best awards - Fifa Fifpro world XI revealed
The women’s world XI is: Christiane Endler; Lucy Bronze, Wendy Renard, Millie Bright, Magdalena Eriksson; Estefania Banini, Carli Lloyd, Barbara Bonansea; Vivianne Miedema, Marta, Alex Morgan.
Bronze said: “I don’t think I can put words to be in this team, to be a role model for girls and boys across the world.”
The men’s world XI is: Gianluigi Donnarumma; David Alaba, Ruben Dias, Leonardo Bonucci; Jorginho, N’Golo Konte, Kevin de Bruyne; Cristiano Ronaldo, Erling Haaland, Robert Lewandowski, Lionel Messi.
Alaba said: “I think it when it comes to strikers, we need to focus on the defenders.”
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