The ceremony for FIFA’s ‘The Best’ awards took place a short time ago, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski and Edouard Mendy having all secured individual prizes.
Lewy strikes gold
For those not aware, ‘The Best’ is the modern equivalent of the FIFA World Player of the Year.
The prize is handed out on an annual basis, to honour the finest performer from across the globe over the course of the prior twelve months.
Previous winners include the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric, whilst Bayern Munich hitman Robert Lewandowski held the mantle of ‘the best’ for the last 12 months+, after striking gold late in 2020.
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 24: Luka Modric of Real Madrid receives the trophy for The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2018 during the The Best FIFA Football Awards Show at Royal Festival Hall on September 24, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
The latest ceremony, meanwhile, took place this evening, with the aforementioned Lewandowski, after being pipped to the Ballon d’Or by Lionel Messi, having long been viewed as the overwhelming favourite to clinch gold once more.
And, in the end, this is precisely what the Polish icon managed:
?? #TheBest FIFA Men’s Player Award 2021 goes to #RobertLewandowski!
??? Fans, players, coaches and journalists have spoken, naming @lewy_official as #TheBest! pic.twitter.com/21hfIDR3rI
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) January 17, 2022
Tuchel, Lamela & more bag prizes
Lewandowski, however, proved far from the only individual to be honoured at The Best awards show.
Elsewhere, Cristiano Ronaldo, after missing out on a spot amongst the final trio of nominees for the headline prize, was afforded an alternative accolade, in the form of the FIFA special award:
?✨ Cristiano Ronaldo is the recipient of #TheBest FIFA Special Award!
?? Legend. Winner. Goalscoring machine. @Cristiano. pic.twitter.com/ZnzGMJKCEk
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) January 17, 2022
It proved a fruitful evening for Chelsea, too, with the European champions having seen all of boss Thomas Tuchel, Edouard Mendy and Emma Hayes honoured as the world’s standout performers in their respective fields.
Chelsea claimed both coaching prizes at the FIFA Best Football Awards, as Thomas Tuchel and Emma Hayes won the men’s and women’s awards respectively, while Edouard Mendy was named men’s goalkeeper of the year #CFC https://t.co/84Hyr94O5X
— PA Dugout (@PAdugout) January 17, 2022
A pair of Blues – in the form of Jorginho and N’Golo Kante – were also included in the FIFPRO World XI for 2021, alongside the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland:
✨ The 2021 Men’s FIFA FIFPRO #World11 lineup:
?? @gigiodonna1
?? @David_Alaba
?? @bonucci_leo19
?? @rubendias?? @DeBruyneKev
?? Jorginho
?? @nglkante?? @lewy_official
?? Lionel Messi
?? @Cristiano
?? @ErlingHaalandBy the players, for the players. @FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/zNAZiTp4S2
— FIFPRO (@FIFPRO) January 17, 2022
Ex-Tottenham star Erik Lamela, meanwhile, took home the prestigious ‘Puskas Award’ – which highlights the best goal scored across the globe over the course of the previous twelve months – owing to his stunning Rabona effort in last year’s North London Derby:
Este golazo de Erik Lamela fue nominado como el mejor tanto del 2021.?⚽️
¡Felicidades @ErikLamela por ganar el premio #Puskas de la @FIFAcom! ???#CreeEnGrande pic.twitter.com/XtOqEIyRK3
— CONMEBOL.com (@CONMEBOL) January 17, 2022
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