FIFA The Best awards and FIFPro eleven: Robert Lewandowski picked as the best in the world

Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Munich
Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Munich - IMAGO / Poolfoto

FIFA’s The Best awards took place in the FIFA headquarters in Zurich on Monday, and the Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski bagged the best player of the season award after losing out on the Balon d’Or to Lionel Messi.

The FIFA awards are voted by the current national team coaches, the captain of every national team and one specialist journalist from each territory, along with the fans registered on fifa.com.

Lewandowski was voted as the best player of the season, with the likes of Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah finishing in the top three.

Barcelona player Alexia Putellas was chosen as the women’s FIFA player of the year, beating the likes of Sam Kerr and Jennifer Hermoso.

The FIFPro world eleven was also announced for both men’s and women’s categories.

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)

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)

Meanwhile, the FIFA Puskas Award, which is a prestigious accolade awarded to the best goal of the season was handed to the former Tottenham Hotspur winger Erik Lamela who scored an incredible rabona goal during the north London derby against Arsenal last year.

Mehdi Taremi’s bicycle kick finished second in the standings, with Patrik Schick wrapping up the top three.

Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy was picked as the goalkeeper of the year for his outstanding performances for the Blues and his contribution to their Champions League victory last season.

Christiane Endler from Chile was chosen as the women’s goalkeeper of the year.

Meanwhile, Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel was picked as the coach of the year after guiding the Blues to Champions League victory last season.

The German manager managed to beat the likes of Roberto Mancini and Pep Guardiola to the first place.

Emma Hayes from Chelsea was chosen as the women’s coach of the year.

The FIFA fan award was handed out to Denmark and Finland fans for their show of support and solidarity during Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest at the European Championships.

The Denmark national team and their medical team were handed the FIFA fair play award for the year.