The Best FIFA Football Awards 2021 ceremony, held as a virtual TV show from the Home of FIFA in Zurich. FC Barcelona’s Spanish midfielder Alexia Putellas and FC Bayern München’s Polish striker Robert Lewandowski claim top player prizes. Lewandowski was recognised as The Best FIFA Men’s Player for the second year in succession. Christine Sinclair and Cristiano Ronaldo received The Best FIFA Special Awards in recognition of their respective international individual goal scoring records.
Chelsea took both the manager awards as FC Women manager Emma Hayes was voted The Best FIFA Women’s Coach while Thomas Tuchel topped the poll for The Best FIFA Men’s Coach.
Senegal’s Édouard Mendy made it a hat-trick for the London club by being chosen as The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper, becoming the first African to win the honor, while Chile and Olympique Lyonnais’ Christiane Endler was named The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper on the strength of her sensational displays.
The Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony also recognised two outstanding performances on the international stage, where landmark goal scoring records have been broken. Christine Sinclair, with 188 goals in 308 caps for Canada, received The Best FIFA Special Award for women’s football, and Cristiano Ronaldo, with 115 goals in 184 appearances for Portugal, received The Best FIFA Special Award for men’s football. FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented the awards to Christine Sinclair (virtual) and Cristiano Ronaldo (in person) during The Best FIFA Football Awards 2021 ceremony
FIFA Player of the Year (Men’s)
Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich / Poland)
FIFA Player of the Year (Women’s)
Alexia Putellas (Barcelona / Spain)
FIFPro Men’s XI
Goalkeeper (1): Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG / Italy)
Defenders (3): David Alaba (Real Madrid / Austria), Ruben Dias (Man City / Portugal), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus / Italy)
Midfielders (3): Jorginho (Chelsea / Italy), N’Golo Kante (Chelsea / France), Kevin De Bruyne (Man City / Belgium)
Forwards (4): Cristiano Ronaldo (Man United / Portugal), Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund / Norway), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich / Poland), Lionel Messi (PSG / Argentina)
FIFPro Women’s XI
Goalkeeper: Christiane Endler (Lyon / Chile)
Defenders: Lucy Bronze (Man City / England), Wendie Renard (Lyon / France), Millie Bright (Chelsea / England), Magdalena Eriksson (Chelsea / Sweden)
Midfielders (3): Estefania Banini (Atletico Madrid / Argentina), Carli Lloyd (USA), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus / Italy)
Forwards (3): Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal / Netherlands), Marta (Orlando Pride / Brazil), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave / USA)
FIFA Puskas Award
Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur / currently Sevilla FC)
FIFA Goalkeeper of the Year (Men’s)
Edouard Mendy (Chelsea / Senegal)
FIFA Goalkeeper of the Year (Women’s)
Christiane Endler (Olympique Lyon / Chile)
FIFA Coach of the Year (Men’s)
Thomas Tuchel (Chelsea)
FIFA Coach of the Year (Women’s)
Emma Hayes (Chelsea)
The Best FIFA Special Award (Men’s)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
The Best FIFA Special Award (Women’s)
Christine Sinclair (Canada)
FIFA Fan Award
Denmark and Finland fans
Denmark and Finland fans at Parken Stadium for their shows of support in the wake of Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest episode at Euro 2021. Finnish fans chanted “Christian!” while Danish supporters responded with “Eriksen”.
FIFA Fair Play Award
Denmark national team (players and staff)
The Danish men’s team is up for the award for its collective response to the Christian Eriksen cardiac arrest at Euro 2021.
