Manchester United forward, Cristiano Ronaldo could not make it to the final shortlist of the 2021 Best Fifa Football Awards player of the year.
The world football governing body rated the 2021 performance of Paris Saint Germain forward, Lionel Messi, Bayern Munich striker, Robert Lewandowski, and Liverpool winger, Mohamed Salah ahead of that of the Portuguese football icon.
This is the first time in the history of the award that the former Real Madrid and Juventus forward failed to make it to the final shortlist of the award. Recall that Ronaldo won the first edition of the Best Fifa Football Awards’ player of the year in 2016.
In 2017, the 5 times Ballon d’Or winner won the award for the second successive time making him the first and only player to win the award a record two times.
In 2018, 2019, and 2020 editions of the award, Ronaldo made it to the final shortlist behind, Luka Modrić in 2018, Lionel Messi in 2019, and Robert Lewandowski in 2020.
As it stands, since Messi and Lewandowski made it to the final shortlist of the 2021 edition of the award, one of the football stars would equal Ronaldo’s record in the history of the award. Recall that the two players have won it once each, one behind the Portuguese forward.
The 2021 Best Fifa Football Awards ceremony will take place in Zurich, Switzerland on 17 January 2022.
The coaches and captains of national teams across the world have the responsibility to vote for the best men’s and women’s players, coaches, and goalkeepers. Also, some selected journalists and fans are expected to play a part in the voting process online.
The nominees with the highest number of votes in their categories will be named winners of the award during the award ceremony.
Everything related to the voting process has closed since December 10, 2021, which means that FIFA is already aware of the winners for all the award categories.
Who will win the Best Fifa Football Awards’ player of the year 2021
All things being equal, Lionel Messi is expected to be named the winner of the 2021 Best Fifa Football Awards player of the year.
Recall that the 34-year-old Argentine forward helped Argentina to win the 2021 Copa America and also helped his former club, FC Barcelona to win the Copa array before he left for PSG.
Due to that, he was named the winner of the 2021 Ballon d’Or for the record seventh time. While his closest competitor in the award, Lewandowski came second.
Hence, the pattern is expected to remain that way while Mohamed Salah is expected to finish third in the category.
Below are all the categories and the final nominees for 2021 the Best FIFA Award
Best women’s player
Jennifer Hermoso (Spain/Barcelona)
Sam Kerr (Australia/Chelsea)
Alexia Putellas (Spain/Barcelona)
Best men’s player
Robert Lewandowski (Poland/Bayern Munich)
Lionel Messi (Argentina/Barcelona/Paris St-Germain)
Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool)
Best women’s coach
Lluis Cortes (Spain/Barcelona)
Emma Hayes (England/Chelsea)
Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands/Dutch national team/English national team)
Best men’s coach
Pep Guardiola (Spain/Manchester City)
Roberto Mancini (Italy/Italian national team)
Thomas Tuchel (Germany/Chelsea)
Best women’s goalkeeper
Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany/Chelsea)
Christiane Endler (Chile/Paris Saint-Germain/Lyon)
Stephanie Labbe (Canada/FC Rosengard/Paris Saint-Germain)
Best men’s goalkeeper
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy/AC Milan/Paris Saint-Germain)
Edouard Mendy (Senegal/Chelsea)
Manuel Neuer (Germany/Bayern Munich)
Fifa Puskas Award
Erik Lamela – Tottenham (v Arsenal, 14 March)
Patrik Schick – Czech Republic (v Scotland, 14 June)
Mehdi Taremi – Porto (v Chelsea, 13 April)
