Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski has been named the best player in the world for the second time in a row. The 33-year-old Polish beat Lionel Messi of Paris Saint-Germain and Mohamed Salah of Liverpool in the FIFA vote.
Meanwhile, Thomas Tuchel was honored as the FIFA World Coach after winning the Champions League with Chelsea. The 48-year-old won the World Federation elections against Italian European champion Roberto Mancini and coach Pep Guardiola from Manchester City.
As a world coach, Tuchel succeeds Jürgen Klopp, who took home the award for his successes with Liverpool in 2020 and 2019.
“It’s been a very normal day so far, I just came from training, but now you said my name,” Tuchel, who was connected by video, said at the Monday evening digital ceremony for Arsene Wenger who honored him. “It’s totally fictional, I’m somewhat confused and uncomfortable.”
Former Bundesliga coach Tuchel took over Chelsea a year ago and won the first division with the London club. Millions of fans around the world, coaches and captains of the national teams of the FIFA member associations and selected journalists were eligible to vote.
Since 2010, FIFA has also chosen the World Coach of the Year in addition to the World Footballer of the Year. Jupp Heynckes (2013) and world champion coach Joachim Löw (2014) outperform Tuchel and Klopp.
Englishwoman Emma Hayes was honored as the best coach for a women’s team by Chelsea FC, which reached the Champions League final.
Neuer misses his second world goalkeeper title
Meanwhile, Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer missed out on the FIFA World Player of the Year award. 35 years old Bayern Munich, who won the 2020 World Federation elections, had to admit defeat in the current version of Champions League winner Edward Mendy of Chelsea.
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Italian European champion Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain) reached the final in the elections. Mindy was crowned at the World Federation Gala on Monday night.
Neuer had won the tournament with the German record champion in the 2020/21 season, and Bayern Munich had won the treble the previous season.
Mendy (29/Senegal) played a key role in German coach Thomas Tuchel’s victory at the London club in the first division. Donnarumma (22), who joined Paris from Milan in the summer, saved two penalties in the European Nations Cup final against England on penalties and was named player of the tournament.
As footballer Berger leaves empty-handed
In addition, the national players and medical staff of the Danish football team were awarded the FIFA Fair Play Award after the drama surrounding star player Christian Eriksen.
Eriksen collapsed on the field on June 12, 2021 during the European Championship group match between Denmark and Finland in Copenhagen and had to be revived. Meanwhile, the clearly traumatized Denmark internationals formed a protective circle around their teammate.
After the dramatic scenes on the grass, it all became clear later in the evening. Eriksen has now been fitted with a defibrillator, the midfielder who wants to stay on the field and hopes to take part in this year’s World Cup in Qatar.
In the women’s match, Chilean Christian Endler of Olympique Lyon defeated German international Anne-Catherine Berger (FC Chelsea) and Canadian Stephanie Lin-Marie Lappé (Paris Saint-Germain).
Berger lost 4-0 to FC Barcelona with her club in the Champions League final in 2021. Captains and coaches of the national teams, selected journalists and fans from all over the world were entitled to vote. (dpa)
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