Poland and Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski has been crowned as The Best FIFA Men’s Player for the second consecutive year with Spain and Barcelona midfielder Alexia Putellas taking home The Best FIFA Women’s Player award.

Lewandowski, who scored 69 goals in the year under review, defeated Egypt and Liverpool star Mohamed Salah and Argentina and Paris St-Germain’s Lionel Messi while Putellas made The Best FIFA Women’s Player shortlist for the first time in her career after inspiring her club to their first UEFA Women’s Champions League title. She also became Spain’s most-capped player and was named UEFA Women’s Player of the Year.

Both players were elated for the accolades.

“I’m always delighted to win individual accolades because they’re also awards for my team. Anything I win, the team also wins, and that makes me very proud. So I’d like to thank all my teammates because they make the difference. I’d also like to thank everybody who voted for me and the fans around the world. Everything we do is for the fans and so I also dedicate this prize to them” Lewandowski said.

“I never imagined I’d reach this level,” Putellas said. “But when you put in the work and people have faith in you, the results come. That’s how it has been for me. We won pretty much everything last season and hopefully, we’ll do that again this year.

“I’m not sure 2021 has really sunk in for me yet, nor have the last few months really. But I’m just going to carry on and hopefully, even more success will come”, the Barcelona female star added.

Other notable awards saw Chelsea FC Women manager Emma Hayes becoming The Best FIFA Women’s Coach for the first time in her career, a feat that was matched by her Chelsea FC counterpart, Thomas Tuchel, while Senegal and Chelsea goalie Édouard Mendy made it a hat-trick for the London club by winning The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper award.