Alexia Putellas, Lewandowski, Salah and Messi, finalists of the award ‘The Best’

Lewandowski, after falling behind Messi in the Ballon d’Or, aspires to chain his second consecutive “The Best” after signing a good year in which he managed to win the Bundesliga and the German Super Cup in addition to signing 69 goals throughout a calendar year (2021). In addition, he surpassed the historic record of Gerd Müller after scoring 41 goals in a single Bundesliga season.

For his part, Messi aspires to snatch the title from the Polish striker and his CV shows the Copa América that he won with Argentina last summer. However, in his new stage at Paris Saint-Germain, he has barely scored six goals and provided four assists in all official matches this season.

Before, when he was still a member of Barcelona, Messi presented even more attractive numbers in 2021. Thanks to them, with 25 league goals, he became the top scorer in the Spanish championship.

Mohamed Salah He will not contribute titles with his team but on an individual level he was key in the correct season of Liverpool, who finished third in the Premier League, reached the fourth round in the League Cup and the English Cup and reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League. In all, Salah scored 39 goals in a calendar year.

The former German player of Real Madrid and Juventus Sami khedira He was in charge of naming the three candidates and gave his opinion on who he thinks should finally win the award.

“Lewandowski has had a spectacular season. He has smashed Muller’s record. But what can we say about Messi, who won the America’s Cup. Salah, with more than 30 goals in all competitions for Liverpool, and in three consecutive seasons he has scored more than 21 goals. I would opt for Lewandowski, he is very professional and spectacular, “he said.

In addition to Lewandowski, Salah y Messi, The Spanish women from Barcelona Jennifer Hermoso and Alexia Putellas will also compete for the women’s award, who will compete with the Australian from Chelsea Sam Kerr to win the award.

In other categories, two other Spaniards will be candidates. In the best coach of a women’s team, andhe Barcelona coach Lluís Cortés will compete against Emma Hayes (FA WSL) and Sarina Wiegman (England), while in the men’s, Pep Guardiola (Manchester City) will try to win against Thomas Tuchel (Chelsea) and Roberto Mancini (Italy).

The “The Best” award for best goalkeeper will be disputed by Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), Edouard Mendy (Chelsea) y Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich); in the female category they will fight for the same award Ann-Katrin Berger (Chelsea), Christiane Endler (Olympique Lyon) y Stephanie Lynn Marie Labbé (Paris Saint-Germain).

In addition, the finalists for the award Puskás The best goal are the Sevilla player Erik Lamela for his goal with Tottenham against Arsenal in the Premier League; Patrik Schick for the goal he scored with the Czech Republic against Scotland in the European Championship; Y Mehdi Taremi, for the target that he celebrated with Porto against Chelsea in the Champions League.

The best player of the year

The Spanish players of Barcelona Alexia Putellas and Jennifer Hermoso They will compete with the Australian from Chelsea Sam Kerr for the “The Best” award for the best player of the year that will be awarded by FIFA on 17 January.

This was announced this Friday by the organization chaired by Gianni Infantino, who gave the name of the three finalists who will compete for an award that will be voted by the coaches and captains of the national teams, fans registered on the official FIFA website and a journalist who will represent each member association team.

The top favorite will be Alexia Putellas, who already got the last Golden Ball thanks to his great season at Barcelona, ​​a club with which he won, among other titles, the Champions League.

In favor of the player of the Blaugrana team, the former American footballer Kristine Lilly, two-time world champion with her selection and in charge of announcing the name of the three finalists.

“I prefer Alexia and the importance she has in the team. But it’s difficult, Jennifer has scored a lot of goals, but Alexia has also scored. Sam I have seen her and she is very good. I lean a little towards Alexia. The three of them have to be very proud, “he commented.

For her part, Jennifer Hermoso will play the first place to his partner after finishing behind her in the Ballon d’Or award. Sam Kerr, for his part, finished in third place and also aspires to surprise.