Chelsea clean up at FIFA's 'The Best' awards with Edouard Mendy, Thomas Tuchel and Emma Hayes all picking up gong... while Erik Lamela's Rabona goal in the north London derby for Arsenal claims Puskas prize

Chelsea stopper Edouard Mendy has won FIFA’s ‘The Best’ goalkeeper prize to be crowned the world’s best shot stopper.

Having won the Champions League with Chelsea last season, Mendy saw off rivals Gianluigi Donnarumma, who won Euro 2020 with Italy, as well as Manuel Neuer. 

The Blues success in Europe also ensured Thomas Tuchel picked up the award for best manager.

Chelsea stopper Edouard Mendy won best goalkeeper award at FIFA’s ‘The Best’ awards

The Blues also saw Thomas Tuchel win the men’s best coach prize having arrived last year

Mendy and Tuchel were crucial towards helping Chelsea win the Champions League

Tuchel saw off competition from Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, who won the Premier League title but lost the Champions League final to the Blues, while Roberto Mancini was also pipped despite this stunning success with Italy at Euro 2020.

Tuchel revealed his delight at the award saying: ‘It was a pretty normal day so far at training. I have just come here. But now you have said my name and it is pretty surreal. I am overwhelmed and a bit uncomfortable.

‘I enjoy the journey and the club. It is a good fit. The company on the journey is so good. We lost a bit of track to Manchester City in the league but we follow our goals still and be the best version of ourselves.’

It was double success for Chelsea with Emma Hayes earning the award for best women’s coach

It was double success for Chelsea in the best manager award with Emma Hayes winning best women’s coach.

Hayes, 45, guided the Blues to Women’s Super League and League Cup glory last season and steered the London side to the Champions League final.

She was named WSL manager of the season for her feats and was awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours for services to football.

Erik Lamela’s stunning rabona goal for Tottenham earned the best goal of the year award

Lamela’s strike against Arsenal earned the now Sevilla forward the top prize at the FIFA awards

Meanwhile, Erik Lamela picked up the Puskas award for best goal following his incredible Rabona strike for Tottenham Hotspur against Arsenal in the north London derby last season at the Emirates Stadium.

Lamela, who has since moved to Sevilla, saw off strong competition from Czech Republic’s Patrik Schick who had scored an incredible 45-yard strike at Euro 2020 against Scotland at Hampden Park as well as Mehdi Taremi strike for Porto against Chelsea last April.

‘To be fair, I never practice this in training. It is something that comes in one second.’, Lamela said after earning the award. 

There was even more success for Chelsea in the men’s best XI award, with Jorginho and Kante also featuring, along with Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester City pair Kevin de Bruyne and Ruben Dias.

Lionel Messi also squeezed into a team which lined up in a 3-3-4 formation and also included Donnarumma, David Alaba, Leonardo Bonucci, Erling Haaland and Robert Lewandowski. 

Mohamed Salah, Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski are up to win the overall The Best player award.

Chile’s Christiane Endler, who joined Lyon from Paris St Germain in June 2021, was named women’s goalkeeper of the year. 

More to follow…