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

Messi announces retirement

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:

The FIFA Best Awards 2022

• Chelsea’s Mendy crowned best men’s keeper; Lyon’s Endler wins women’s keeper award
• Tottenham’s Erik Lamela wins Puskask Award for rabona finish against Arsenal
• Chelsea’s Emma Hayes wins best women’s coach; Thomas Tuchel takes men’s award
• Lucy Bronze among women’s world XI team; Messi and Ronaldo make men’s XI once more
• Alexia Putellas wins women’s player of the year
• Robert Lewandowski wins men’s individual award for second year

[17 January 2022 16:03 · Sarah Rendell]

Take a look at the Puskas nominees

There are some cracking goals nominated for the Puskas award this year and I think they are all worth a re-watch.

The nominees are: Patrik Schick (Czech Republic vs Scotland, Euro 2020 June 2021), Erik Lamela (Arsenal vs Tottenham, Premier League March 2021) and Mehdi Taremi (Chelsea vs FC Porto, Champions League April 2021).

We will find out the winner from 6pm this evening so stay tuned for all the updates.

[17 January 2022 15:53 · Sarah Rendell]

So when do the Fifa Best awards start?

Award season is back and football royalty will be in their finest outfits for the Fifa Best awards this evening.

Robert Lewandowski and Alexia Putellas are thought to be favourites to claim the big gongs. However, there are loads of debate around who should get their hands on the prizes.

But fans will be wondering how can they watch as the awards are not on TV this evening. Supporters will be able to stream the ceremony online, on the Fifa website and on their YouTube channel.

For all other details, click here:

[17 January 2022 15:43 · Sarah Rendell]

Fifa Best Awards

So today is the day, who will get their hands on the Fifa Best awards this evening? The nominations have already been cut to a shortlist and the competition is tough.

The shortlists are as follows:

Fifa Men’s Player

• Robert Lewandowski (Poland and Bayern Munich)
• Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona and PSG)
• Mo Salah (Egypt and Liverpool )

Fifa Women’s Player

• Jennifer Hermoso (Spain and Barcelona)
• Alexia Putellas (Spain and Barcelona)
• Sam Kerr (Australia and Chelsea)

Fifa Men’s Coach

• Pep Guardiola (Man City)
• Thomas Tuchel (Chelsea)
• Roberto Mancini (Italy)

Fifa Women’s Coach

• Lluís Cortés (Barcelona)
• Emma Hayes (Chelsea)
• Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands and England)

Fifa Men’s Goalkeeper

• Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy, AC Milan and PSG)
• Edouard Mendy (Senegal and Chelsea)
• Manuel Neuer (Germay and Bayern Munich)

Fifa Women’s Goalkeeper

• Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany and Chelsea)
• Christiane Endler (Chiles, PSG and Lyon)
• Stephanie Lynn Marie Labbé (Canada, Rosengrad and PSG)

Puskas Award

• Erik Lamela (Arsenal vs Tottenham, Premier League March 2021)
• Patrik Schick (Czech Republic vs Scotland, Euro 2020 June 2021)
• Mehdi Taremi (Chelsea vs FC Porto, Champions League April 2021)

[17 January 2022 13:45 · Jamie Braidwood]

The Best FIFA Awards 2022

Follow live updates from the Fifa Best Awards as the as the men’s and women’s player of the year are crowned in Zurich. Lionel Messi, Mohamed Salah and Robert Lewandowski are up for the men’s award, which is being handed out one month on from the Ballon d’Or. Messi was the winner on that occasion, beating Lewandowski to the prize, after a 2021 which saw the Argentina star claim a first major international honour with his country at the Copa America. He also won the Copa del Rey and finished as La Liga’s top scorer with Barcelona on his last season at the club, before moving to Paris Saint-Germain last summer.

Lewandowski will be hoping for a different result this time around. The Bayern Munich striker is looking to defend his Fifa Best title from last year and finish ahead of Messi once more, after many felt he should have won the Ballon d’Or following a record-breaking goalscoring season in the Bundesliga. Liverpool forward Salah is the Premier League’s top scorer with 16 goals so far this campaign and has been included in the top three despite finishing seventh in last month’s Ballon d’Or.

Alexia Putellas is the favourite to win the women’s award and add to her own Ballon d’Or win after her role in Barcelona’s dominant treble winning season. She is joined by teammate Jennifer Hermoso and Chelsea striker Sam Kerr on the final shortlist. Pep Guardiola, Thomas Tuchel and Emma Hayes are among the managers nominated for men’s and women’s coach of the year, while the Puskas Award for goal of the year and the Fifa Fifpro men’s and women’s world XI will also be revealed.