FIFA Best Awards: Chelsea dominates as Lewandowski retains the best

FIFA Best Awards 2021

The FIFA Best Awards were conducted on Monday night in Zurich, with Chelsea dominating the awards, taking home three prizes.

While Robert Lewandowski and Alexia Putellas, who won the women’s Ballon d’Or last year, took home the prizes for Best Men’s and Women’s player respectively, the Blues had winners in the form of managers Thomas Tuchel, Emma Hayes and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

Thomas Tuchel, who guided Chelsea to Champions League success last season, scooped the Best Men’s Coach award, while Chelsea FC Women head coach Emma Hayes was named Best Women’s Coach.

Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel won Best Men’s coach in the FIFA Best awards 2021. | PHOTO: Getty Images |

Hayes’ team won the Women’s FA Cup and Premier League in 2020-21, while also finishing as runners-up in the Women’s Champions League to Barcelona, who Putellas plays for.

Chelsea shot-stopper Mendy, meanwhile, won the Best Men’s Goalkeeper award. However, he did not make the Men’s XI, with Italy and Paris Saint-Germain shot-stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma preferred, just like it happened in the Ballon d’Or awards last year.

Tuchel’s triumph also means that a German coach has won the Men’s award for the last three years, after Jurgen Klopp in 2020 and 2019.

The Denmark national team won the Fair Play Award for their actions in helping to save Christian Eriksen’s life after the midfielder collapsed on the pitch in Copenhagen at Euro 2020 in a clash with Finland.

Erik Lamela won the Puskas Award for his incredible rabona finish in the north London derby against Arsenal.

Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, was given a Special Award for his career achievements and so was Christine Sinclair.

Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo was given a special award for his career achievements. | PHOTO: Getty Images |

FIFA Best Awards 2021 winners:

Robert Lewandowski (Best Men’s Player)
Thomas Tuchel (Best Men’s Coach)
Edouard Mendy (Best Men’s Goalkeeper)
Alexia Putellas (Best Women’s Player)
Emma Hayes (Best Women’s Coach)
Christiane Endler (Best Women’s Goalkeeper)
Denmark men’s national team (FIFA Fair Play Award)
Erik Lamela (Puskas Award)
Denmark and Finland fans (FIFA Fan Award)
Cristiano Ronaldo (FIFA Special Award)
Christine Sinclair (FIFA Special Award)