Zurich (AP) – The German national goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has missed his second award as FIFA world goalkeeper of the year.
The 35-year-old from FC Bayern Munich, who won the election of the world association for 2020, had to admit defeat in the current edition of the Champions League winner Édouard Mendy from Chelsea. The Italian European champion Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain) also made it into the election final. Mendy was crowned at the world association’s gala on Monday evening.
Neuer had won the championship with the German record champions in the 2020/21 season, and FC Bayern had won the triple in the previous season. Mendy (29/Senegal) played a major role in the triumph of German coach Thomas Tuchel’s London club in the premier class. Donnarumma (22), who joined Paris from AC Milan in the summer, saved two penalties in the EURO final against England and was voted player of the tournament.
In the women’s game, Chilean Christiane Endler from Olympique Lyon beat German international Ann-Katrin Berger (FC Chelsea) and Canadian Stephanie Lynn Marie Labbé (Paris Saint-Germain). Berger lost 4-0 to FC Barcelona with her club in the Champions League final in 2021. The captains and coaches of the national teams, selected journalists and fans from all over the world were entitled to vote.
The national players and the medical staff of the Danish soccer team have been awarded the FIFA Fair Play Prize after the drama surrounding star player Christian Eriksen.
Eriksen collapsed on the pitch on June 12, 2021 during the European Championship group match between Denmark and Finland in Copenhagen and had to be revived. Meanwhile, the visibly shocked Denmark internationals formed a protective circle around their team-mate. After the dramatic scenes on the lawn, the all-clear came later in the evening. The supporters of Denmark and Finland received the FIFA Fan Award for their compassionate and appropriate response during the game.
A defibrillator has now been fitted to Eriksen, the midfielder wants to stay on the pitch and hopes to take part in this year’s World Cup in Qatar.
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