Lewandowski and Putellas win Fifa Best awards as Chelsea scoop three gongs

Cristiano Ronaldo wins Special Award in recognition of setting a record of most international goals scored

FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks with the Best FIFA Men’s Player 2021 award winner Robert Lewandowski (on screen) during the Best FIFA Football Awards 2021 in Zurich on January 17, 2022. AFP

Barcelona's Alexia Putellas won the Best FIFA Women's Player 2021 award. EPA

Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo receives the FIFA Special Best Men Award 2021 for breaking the international goals scored record. AFP

Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo receives the FIFA Special Best Men Award 2021 during the Best FIFA Football Awards 2021 in Zurich. AFP

The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper 2021 award winner Christiane Endler (on screen) speaks with Britain's Fara Williams. AFP

File photo dated 05-12-2021 of Chelsea manager Emma Hayes.won the Best FIFA Women's Coach award. PA

The Best FIFA Men's Coach 2021 award winner Thomas Tuchel speaks with FIFA Chief of Global Football Development Arsene Wenger, right, and presenter Reshmin Chowdhury. AP

Members of the FIFA FIFPro Women's World XI 2021 speak with FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura, Lotta Schelin and presenter Reshmin Chowdhury. AP

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel won the the FIFA Best Men's Coach award. PA

The FIFA Puskas award for 2021 winner Erik Lamela speaks with Yaya Toure, right, and presenter Reshmin Chowdhury. AP

Peter Schmeichel announces The Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper 2021 award winner Edouard Mendy of Chelsea. AP

FIFA President Gianni Infantino presents the FIFA Special Best Women's award to Canada's Christine Sinclair. AFP

This photograph taken in Zurich on January 17, 2022 shows a trophy of a FIFA Best Football Award prior to the ceremony at FIFA Headquarters. AFP

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.

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.

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.

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.