Robert Lewandowski,Alexia Putellas take top FIFA crown

Bayern Munich's record-setting striker Robert Lewandowski retained FIFA's Best Men's Player of the Year title on Monday at The Best of 2021 ceremony as Barcelona captain Alexia Putellas collected the award for best women's player. The 33-year-old Lewandowski, who set a Bundesliga goal record last season, won the trophy for the second time, edging Argentine Lionel Messi of Paris Saint-Germain and Egyptian Mohamed Salah of Liverpool. It was some consolation for the Polish striker who lost out to Messi for the Ballon d'Or in November.

It is a great honor and pleasure to receive the title of FIFA The Best Men's Player

Thank you for your votes and your support #TheBest @FIFAWorldCup @FIFAcom pic.twitter.com/GdLwawCNK8

— Robert Lewandowski (@lewy_official) January 17, 2022

The 27-year-old Putellas was at the heart of the Barcelona women's team which won the Spanish league and the UEFA Champions League. Chelsea won both the awards for best coach, with Thomas Tuchel winning the men's award and Emma Hayes named the best women's coach. Chile and Olympique Lyonnais’ Christiane Endler was named The Best Women’s Goalkeeper. The Puskas Award for best goal of the year was won by Argentine Erik Lamela, now with Spanish club Sevilla, for his goal for Tottenham Hotspur against Arsenal.The Denmark national team and their medical staff won the Fair Play award for their swift response after Christian Eriksen collapsed on the field during the Euro 2020 game with Finland.