According to the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA), Robert Lewandowski, a Pole, won the Best of the World’s Best Footballer in 2021 for the second time in a row. Bayern Munich’s 33-year-old striker outperforms Argentine Lionel Messi of Paris St. Germain, who beat Lewandowski in the Golden Ball poll last year, and Egyptian Mohamed Salah of Liverpool.
Due to the coronavirus, the gala evening took place for the second year in a row virtually from FIFA headquarters in Zurich. The biggest stars were chosen by the captains and coaches of the national teams, fans and media representatives. The successes achieved between October 2020 and last August were evaluated.
Lewandowski helped Bayern last season to the ninth championship in the German league in a row. The Warsaw native scored 41 Bundesliga goals, which surpassed Gerd Müller’s last year’s 1971/72 record by one goal.
“I’m honored to have won this trophy, and I feel proud. I know it belongs to my teammates and coaches. We all work hard to win. Working with people like that is special to me.” Lewandowski said.
“I never dreamed of breaking Müller’s record. To score 41 goals in 29 matches? If you asked me a few years ago if it was possible, I would say no. I also thank Gerd. He set many records and for me it was always motivating to try to overcome them, “ added the captain of the Polish national team.
German Thomas Tuchel was elected Coach of the Year, who led Chelsea to a triumph in the Champions League last year. His Senegalese charge from the London team Édouard Mendy won the award for the best goalkeeper.
Argentine Erik Lamela from Seville won the Puskás Prize for the most beautiful goal of the year. His “rabona” still in the Tottenham jersey in the English league match against Arsenal also surpassed the lob of the Czech forward Patrik Schick by almost half of the field in the match with Scotland at the European Championships.
Spanish midfielder Alexia Putellas from Barcelona, who won the Golden Ball in November, became the footballer of the year. Englishwoman Emma Hayes from Chelsea succeeded among the coaches. The award for the best goalkeeper goes to Chilanka Christiane Endler from Lyon.
The fair play award was given to doctors, players and other members of the Danish national team who helped save midfielder Christian Eriksen on the pitch when he collapsed during the June match against Finland against the Euro.
The Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo received the FIFA Special Award for becoming the best national team scorer in history. The 36-year-old Manchester United gunner broke the record of Iranian Ali Daeí and now has 115 goals for the national team.
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