Lewandowski beats Messi and Salah to FIFA The Best award

Bayern Munich and Poland forward Robert Lewandowski beats Messi and Salah to win FIFA The Best Men's player of the year award

 

Robert Lewandowski wins the FIFA Best player of the year on Monday, beating Messi and Salah to the award. (Photo credit: FIFA)

Robert Lewandowski wins the FIFA Best men’s player of the world for the second time in history with his impressive goal haul in the year under consideration.

The Bayern Munich and Poland striker beat Lionel Messi and Liverpool’s Mohammed Salah to the award that was held on Monday, ensuring Messi doesn’t do a double following the announcement of the Argentine as the 2021 Ballon d’Or winner.

Chelsea’s Thomas Tuchel beat Pep Guardiola and Roberto Mancini to the coach of the year award while Barcelona midfielder Alexia Putellas won the best female player of the year award. 

Arsenal’s Vivian Miedema was included in the female team of the year.

Chelsea’s Edouard Mendy won the goalkeeper of the year award but surprisingly, it was Gigi Donnarumma that was named in the FIFPRO XI alongside David Alaba, Leonardo Bonucci, Ruben Dias, N’golo Kante, Jorginho, Kevin De Bruyne, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Erling Braut Haaland and Lewandowski.

Denmark team and staff won the Fair Play award following their reaction to Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest at Euro 2020; Denmark and Finland fans also received the Best Fan award for their spontaneous unified chanting in support of Eriksen after he was taken off the pitch.

The award was first handed out in its present guise in 2016, after FIFA ended their five-year partnership with the Ballon d'Or. Ronaldo, who was given a special award for breaking the international men’s goal scoring record in 2021, won back-to-back awards in the first two years.