Bayern Munich's prolific Polish striker Robert Lewandowski won the Fifa Best Men's Player award for a second successive year Monday, with Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Alexia Putellas taking the women's prize for 2021.
Lewandowski enjoyed a record breaking 2021, beating Gerd Mueller's long-standing record of 40 goals in a single Bundesliga campaign.
"I'm happy and honoured to win this award, and I feel very proud," said Lewandowski, 33, who scored 48 goals for club and country in 2020/21.
Lewandowski scored three times for Bayern at the weekend taking his 2021/22 season tally to 39 goals in 33 matches.
The trophy was some consolation for the Polish striker who lost out to Messi for the older and rival award the Ballon d'Or in November.
"Robert is someone special. He is the greatest footballer in the history of our country. The best Polish ambassador and a role model for young people, not only those playing football," Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Facebook.
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Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring Poland's second goal against Andorra in their World Cup qualifier on March 28. Reuters -
Poland forward Robert Lewandowski opens the scoring against Andorra in Warsaw. AFP -
Poland's Robert Lewandowski celebrates with his teammates after scoring the opening goal. AFP -
Poland's Robert Lewandowski on the attack in their 3-0 win. EPA -
Poland's Robert Lewandowski under pressure from Marc Rebes of Andorra. EPA -
Robert Lewandowski scores Poland's opener. Reuters -
Poland's forward Robert Lewandowski watches a chance go wide of the target. AFP -
Robert Lewandowski shoots at goal. EPA -
Poland's Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring their second goal. Reuters -
Robert Lewandowski under pressure from Andorra's Marc Rebes. EPA -
Poland substitute Karol Swiderski replaces the injured Robert Lewandowski. Reuters
Putellas, 27, is the heartbeat of the Barcelona women's team which won the Spanish league and the Champions League.
"This trophy is for everyone in the team," Putellas said. "The trophy will be an inspiration for us all."
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.
Tuchel guided Chelsea to the Champions League title after taking over the reins in January while Hayes won the Women's Super League, FA Cup and League Cup treble in England.
The West London club enjoyed further recognition with their Senegal international Edouard Mendy winning the Best Men's Goalkeeper award.
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Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich together after winning the Uefa Champions League. EPA -
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich poses with club captain Cesar Azpilicueta and the Ueefa Champions League trophy following Chelsea's win over Manchester City in the final. PA -
Chelsea defender Thiago Silva celebrates with owner Roman Abramovich after winning the Champions League. Reuters -
Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga celebrates with owner Roman Abramovich after winning the Champions League. Reuters -
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich with Thiago Silva after winning the Uefa Champions League. Getty Images -
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel celebrates with owner Roman Abramovich after winning the Champions League. Reuters -
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich celebrates on the pitch after the Uefa Champions League final. PA -
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich on the pitch following Chelsea's victory in the Champions League final. PA -
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich on the pitch following Chelsea's victory in the Champions League final. PA -
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich celebrates on the pitch after the Champions League final. PA
Chile and Olympique Lyonnais’ Christiane Endler was named The Best Women’s Goalkeeper.
Cristiano Ronaldo won the Special Award in recognition of setting a record of most international goals scored, beating Ali Daei's long-standing mark of 109 for Iran.
The 36-year-old Ronaldo now has 115 goals from 184 games with Portugal after making his debut aged 18 back in 2003.
"I never expected to beat this record, and I thank my teammates from these past 20 years," said Ronaldo, who also holds the record for 140 Champions League goals.
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10 - Cristiano Ronaldo's treble against Luxembourg in 2022 World Cup qualifying on October 12, 2021 saw him become the first player to net 10 international hat-tricks. Getty Images -
111 - Cristiano Ronaldo's two last-gasp headers in a 2022 World Cup qualifier against Republic of Ireland on September 1, 2021 made him the highest scoring player in international football, surpassing Ali Daei's previous mark of 109. Reuters -
11 - Cristiano Ronaldo's two goals in a 3-0 win over Hungary in their opening match of Euro 2020 saw him surpass Michel Platini's record of nine at the continental championship. EPA -
770 - Cristiano Ronaldo's hat-trick in Juventus' 3-1 win over Cagliari on Sunday, March 14 saw him surpass Pele's official record tally of goals for both club and country. AFP -
12 - Cristiano Ronaldo's goal in a 3-0 Serie A win over Spezia on March 2, 2021 saw the Portuguese striker become the first player to score 20 league goals in 12 consecutive seasons across Europe's top five league. AFP -
760 - Cristiano Ronaldo was hailed as the most prolific goalscorer in history on Wednesday after scoring his 760th senior goal to help Juventus beat Napoli 2-0 in the Italian Supercup final. AFP -
200 - Fastest Real Madrid player to reach 200 official goals. Reuters -
150 - Fastest La Liga player to score 150 league goals (140 matches). AP -
Cristiano Ronaldo is ranked by ESPN as the most famous sportsman in the world and is the most followed individual on both Facebook and Instagram.. AFP -
14 - Most goals scored in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. AFP -
10 - First player to score in ten consecutive international tournaments (Portugal). AFP -
4 - Most UEFA Best Player in Europe Award and UEFA Club Footballer of the Year. AFP -
3 - First player to appear in three European Championship semi-finals: in 2004, 2012, and 2016. AFP -
5 - Most headed goals at European Championship finals tournaments. Getty Images -
Oldest player to score a UEFA Champions League hat-trick: 34 years and 35 days. Reuters -
128 - Most goals scored in the UEFA Champions League. Reuters -
30 - Most goals scored in European World Cup Qualifiers. AFP -
34 - Most hat-tricks in La Liga for Real Madrid. Reuters -
100 - Youngest Portuguese player to reach 100 caps: 27 years, 8 months and 11 days. Reuters -
17 - Most matches played in World Cup finals for Portugal. AFP -
21 - Most matches played in European Championship finals for Portugal. Reuters -
7 - First player to score in seven consecutive away matches in a debut Serie A season. AFP -
12 - Most goals scored from direct free kicks in UEFA Champions League history. EPA -
3 - First player to appear in the FIFPro World11 for two and three clubs. Getty -
22 - Most goals scored in Madrid Derby matches. AFP -
40 - Most assists in the UEFA Champions League. Reuters -
6 - First player to score in six consecutive Clásicos. AFP -
2 - First player to score for two winning teams in the UEFA Champions League/European Cup: Manchester United (2007–08) and Real Madrid (2013–14). Getty Images -
41 - Most different national teams scored against. Reuters -
33 years, 310 days - Oldest player to score a hat-trick at a World Cup. Reuters -
1 - First footballer to have won the European Golden Shoe in different leagues: English Premier League (2007–08) and Spanish La Liga (2010–11, 2013–14, 2014–15). Getty -
10 - Only player to score 10 goals against a single opponent (Juventus) in the UEFA Champions League. AFP -
6 - Only player to finish UEFA Champions League top scorer in six consecutive seasons: from 2012–13 to 2017–18. Reuters -
6 - Only player to score in all six group stage matches in the UEFA Champions League in a season. AFP -
11 - Most consecutive UEFA Champions League matches scored in. Getty Images -
61 - Most goals scored from penalty kicks in La Liga history. Getty Images -
311- Real Madrid's top goalscorer in La Liga. Getty Images -
56 - Most goals scored in UEFA Champions League knockout phase. AFP -
450 - Real Madrid all-time top goalscorer. AP Photo -
17 - Most goals scored in a UEFA Champions League/European Cup season (2013/14). Reuters -
9 - Most hat-tricks scored for the Portugal national team. AP Photo -
131 - Most goals scored in European competitions (club football). Reuters -
100 - First player to reach 100 career goals in the UEFA Champions League. Getty Images -
164 - Portugal's most capped player. Reuters -
2 - First player to score in consecutive FIFA Club World Cup Finals (2016, 2017). Christopher Pike / The National -
8 - Only player in the world who has scored in the 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 editions of the European Championship; and in the 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018 editions of the World Cup -
99 - Europe's all-time top international goalscorer. Reuters -
171 - Most goals scored in all UEFA competitions. Reuters -
50 - Only player to score more than a half-century of goals in seven consecutive calendar years. Getty Images -
2- Only player to win the league title, domestic cup, domestic supercup, Champions League, Club World Cup, league player of the year, Golden Shoe and Ballon d'Or at two clubs (Manchester United and Real Madrid). Getty Images -
32- Most international goals in a calander year with Portugal (2017). AFP -
7 - Most goals in the history of the Fifa Club World Cup. AFP -
128 - Ronaldo is the UEFA Champions league all-time top goalscorer with 128 goals while Lionel Messi is second with 114 to his name. Getty Images -
11 - Most consecutive Serie A matches scored in. AFP -
50 - Ronaldo's two goals for Juventus against Lazio saw him become the fastest player to reach 50 goals in Serie A, doing so in 61 games. Reuters -
50 - With his brace against Lazio on Monday, Ronaldo became the first player to score 50 or more goals in Serie A, La Liga, and the Premier League. AFP
The Puskas Award for best goal of the year was won by Argentina's Erik Lamela, now with Spanish club Sevilla, for his rabona 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.
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Denmark's Christian Eriksen is carried off after collapsing during the Euro 2020 match against Finland. Reuters -
Denmark's Christian Eriksen during the match. Reuters -
Denmark players form a shield around Christian Eriksen while he receives medical attention after collapsing. Reuters -
Christian Eriksen lies on the pitch after collapsing. AP -
Denmark players surround Christian Eriksen as he receives medical attention. Reuters -
Denmark's Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg gestures to the stands as the team returns to the pitch to resume the match against Finland. AP -
Belgium's Romelu Lukaku dedicated his opening goal against Russia at Euo 2020 to Eriksen, his then Inter Milan teammate. EPA
