Chelsea won the UEFA Champions League, while its female team finished as runners-up in the female category.
Every year players, coaches and teams get celebrated for their achievements during the year. There usually are debates over who the best player or the best team is. The last two decades have witnessed controversies and marred the winners of the awards, with many disagreeing with the choice of winners.
A trip back in time unearths the apathy many have for these awards. In 2010, Wesley Sneijder was the shoo-in candidate to win. He had contributed immensely to Inter Milan winning their first and only Italian treble. He also led the Netherlands to the final of the World Cup, scoring five goals but bowing to Spain 1-0.
Sneijder didn’t even finish in the top three, with Lionel Messi (who had an underwhelming season), Iniesta and Xavi taking up the three spots. Sneijder managed a fourth-place finish.
Chelsea voted club of the year
The Ballon d’Or 2021 ceremony occurred in Paris on Monday night. Several awards were handed out to clubs and players.
While question marks remain over how the winners are selected, the awards continue to battle with credibility issues.
Chelsea came out smelling like roses as the achievements of its men and women’s teams earned them the club of the year award. The Blues became the first winners of the award as the organizers looked for more ways to make the awards more attractive.
Chelsea women's team were losing finalists of the UEFA Women’s Champions League. They lost 4-1 to Barcelona, while their men’s team beat Manchester City 1-0 to win the men’s edition. They also won the European Super Cup, beating Villarreal on penalties.
Other awards the Blues featured in
Chelsea were well represented in the Individual awards, with several of their players nominated. Their heavy representation in various categories is a testament to how well both the men and women’s teams fared in the year.
In the goalkeepers' award, the Yashin Trophy went to Italy and PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who beat Chelsea’s Edouard Mendy to second place. In the award for the men’s Ballon d’Or Jorginho finished third, behind Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski, while N’golo Kante finished fifth.
Chelsea were also well represented in the Women’s Feminin award. On the 10-strong shortlist, Chelsea accounted for four players, with Sam Kerr the highest-ranked of the Chelsea players. She finished third in the vote.
The recognition at the awards showed what excellent work Thomas Tuchel (men) and Emma Hayes (women) achieved for the side.
Other Chelsea players on the Ballon d’Or shortlist are Romelu Lukaku, Mason Mount, Cesar Azpilicueta (men), Pernille Harder, Fran Kirby and Jessie Fleming (women).
Chelsea haved the season in brilliant form as they top the Premier League and are second in the WSL going into December.
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