On Monday FIFA announced the “Best FIFA Football Awards” for 2021. In the sixth iteration of these honors, Chelsea men and women raked in the honors, and Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski got his best Men’s Player award after his Ballon D’or snub.
Here’s a list of the awards announced Monday:
Best Men’s Player: Robert Lewandowski, Bayern Munich
Following a record-breaking season that saw Lewandowski score 41 goals in the Bundesliga, Lewandowski was rewarded.
Best Women’s Player: Alexia Putellas, Barcelona
Involved in 30 goals while leading Barcelona to a treble, Putellas is more than deserving of this award.
Best Men’s Coach: Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea
I do wonder if Tuchel would have won the award managing Chelsea for the entire year but his run to end the 2020-21 season with a Champions League title was other-worldly.
Best Women’s Coach: Emma Hayes, Chelsea
Win the treble and that’s an easy route to this award.
Best Men’s Goalkeeper: Edouard Mendy, Chelsea
Key in Chelsea’s defensive run and a clear upgrade over Kepa Arrizabalaga, Mendy was a stalwart in net.
Best Women’s Keeper: Christiane Endler, Lyon
Only conceding four goals in Division 1 Féminine, Endler was a force last season.
Puskas Award (best goal): Erik Lamela, Tottenham
This Rabona — which Lamela scored with Spurs before leaving the club for Sevilla — was great, don’t get me wrong. But the Puskas Award is becoming the goal shared most on social media, not the best goal that was scored during the year.
Best Fan Award: Denmark and Finland fans
This moment from Euro 2020 will gives you chills.
Fifa Men’s World XI:
Gianluigi Donnarumma, David Alaba, Leonardo Bonucci, Ruben Dias, Kevin De Bruyne, Jorginho, N’Golo Kante, Cristiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski, Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland
One day there will be a “best XI” that can actually be played out on the pitch but Monday wasn’t that day. Messi and Ronaldo at wing-back would be quite fun but a forward should’ve been dropped for an actual defender or another midfielder. Trent Alexander-Arnold comes to mind as an easy replacement.
FIFA Women’s World XI
Christiane Endler, Millie Bright, Lucy Bronze, Magdalena Eriksson, Wendie Renard, Estefania Banini, Barbara Bonansea, Carli Lloyd, Marta, Vivianne Miedema, Alex Morgan
I… I don’t know how you have a women’s best XI and don’t include the Women’s best player. While there are quite a few issues with this list, that’s chief among them.
Fair Play Award: Denmark national team/ Danish medical team and staff
The response to Christian Eriksen’s heart attack during Euro 2020 was both well-coordinated and a life-saving effort that changed the game as teams are now prepared to respond to situations like this. We’ve seen quite a few medical scenarios handled swiftly and effectively this year and they can thank the Euros for re-writing the book on how that’s done.
