https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2021/11/29/chelsea-at-the-ballon-d-or-2021
Ballon d'Or 2021: Bronze for Jorginho and Kerr while Chelsea named Club of
the Year
29 Nov 2021
There was plenty of Chelsea recognition at the 65th Ballon d'Or, which
took place at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on Monday evening, with
Jorginho and Sam Kerr both finishing third in the men's and women's
awards.
https://i.imgur.com/NvQX68z.jpg
The Italian was pipped to the coveted award by Lionel Messi, who landed
his seventh Ballon d'Or, while Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski was just
ahead of Jorginho in second.
N'Golo Kante also made the top 10 as he came in fifth place, while there
was also a third-placed finish for Sam Kerr in the Women's award, which
also saw Pernille Harder, Jessie Fleming and Fran Kirby named in the top
10.
As well as the men's and women's editions of the coveted award, there was
also the Yashin Trophy up for grabs, which is dedicated to goalkeepers, as
well as two newly created awards by France Football magazine.
https://i.imgur.com/d8Rd8t5.jpg
Thomas and Emma show off our trophies!
Edouard Mendy took silver in the Yashin Trophy, edged out to the award by
Italy and PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
One of the newly created awards, Club of the Year, was won by the Blues as
our excellent seasons across both our men's and women's side was duly
noted by the football world.
Below is a recap of all our winners!
Jorginho comes third in Ballon d'Or
After lifting European silverware on the club and national team stage this
year, Jorginho has been awarded third place in the vote for the
prestigious Ballon d'Or.
https://i.imgur.com/qbzC6z2.jpg
Jorginho at Stamford Bridge ready to watch the awards ceremony
The Italian narrowly missed out on the top prize to Lionel Messi, with
Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski claiming second. It is the best
performance for a Chelsea player at the awards since Frank Lampard was
runner-up in 2005.
Jorginho, who turns 30 next month, has enjoyed a prolific year for the
Blues as he helped us to Champions League and Super Cup triumphs with his
fluid passing and movement in midfield, not to mention those unerring
goals from the penalty spot in his inimitable style.
His defence-splitting pass in the Champions League quarter-finals set up
Mason Mount to open the scoring against Porto in a 2-0 win and he was an
ever-present in the knockout round barring the second leg of our last-16
clash with Atletico Madrid, during which he memorably celebrated in the
stands with team-mates Mount and Thiago Silva.
For the Azzurri, he proved indispensable as they marched to the Euro 2020
title. The Chelsea man was one of only two outfield players to start every
single game for Italy as they went all the way, proving key to their
success.
https://i.imgur.com/ECOENNb.jpg
Jorginho also lifted Euro 2020 with Italy last summer
He scored the decisive penalty in the semi-final shootout win over Spain
and, although he saw his effort from the spot saved as Roberto Mancini's
men beat England in the final, his importance to Italy's triumph was
beyond doubt, as shown when he was selected in the UEFA Euro 2020 Team of
the Tournament.
Earlier today, Jorginho's Chelsea team-mates Cesar Azpilicueta, Mason
Mount, Romelu Lukaku and N'Golo Kante were placed joint 29th, 19th, 12th
and fifth respectively.
The Ballon d'Or award is presented by France Football magazine to the best
male footballer playing in Europe over the last 12 months and is voted for
by journalists, as well as the managers and captains of European national
teams.
Chelsea named Club of the Year!
Chelsea have been named as the Club of the Year at tonight's Ballon d'Or
ceremony after winning the Champions League last season for the second
time in the club's history.
https://i.imgur.com/S4b75Zj.jpg
Blues land prestigious award!
Thomas Tuchel's side also reached the FA Cup final as well as finishing
fourth in the Premier League, and have been rewarded for their successes
with this prestigious award - which was one of two new awards added this
year at the ceremony in Paris.
A total of five Chelsea players were amongst 30 nominated for this year's
Ballon d'Or award, with five Chelsea Women named in the 20-strong female
award.
No other team had more players represented for either award than the
Blues, who also had goalkeeper Edouard Mendy amongst the Yashin Trophy
nominees, after becoming the first-ever African goalkeeper to win the
Champions League.
Chelsea's incredible form at the back end of last season has transferred
to the current campaign, as we currently sit top of the Premier League and
have already qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League.
A huge reason behind our recent success is down to head coach Thomas
Tuchel. The Bavarian, who arrived at the club in January, has won 32 of
his initial 51 Chelsea matches, tasting defeat in just seven matches.
https://i.imgur.com/BKGAP3I.jpg
Tuchel celebrating on that magical night in Porto
Transforming the defence has been a huge part of Tuchel's work, with his
side keeping 31 clean sheets across the 51 games – conceding a remarkably
low total of 25 goals.
Chelsea Women also went from strength to strength in 2021. Emma Hayes's
side won the Women's Super League for the second year running last season,
alongside winning the League Cup and reaching the Champions League final
for the first time in our history.
https://i.imgur.com/uN4PbnZ.jpg
Chelsea Women are aiming for a third WSL title in a row
The Blues have also started this campaign strongly, sitting in second
position in the WSL behind Arsenal, with seven wins from eight matches,
and will contest the FA Cup final against the Gunners on Sunday.
Mendy takes second in Yashin Trophy vote
Edouard Mendy has been named as the second-best goalkeeper in European
football as part of tonight's Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris.
https://i.imgur.com/xrfgq9w.jpg
Silver for Edou!
In addition to the headline award for Europe's best footballer, the
prestigious event at the Theatre du Chatelet arranged by France Football
magazine also announced the result of the vote for Yashin Trophy, named
for legendary Soviet Union international Lev Yashin, the only goalkeeper
to win the Ballon d'Or.
Although this year's award went to Italy keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma after
helping his country win Euro 2020 during the summer, second place in the
vote by previous Ballon d'Or winners went to Mendy, who was watching the
ceremony live at Stamford Bridge with Thomas Tuchel and his Blues
team-mates, as Covid-19 rules prevented them from attending in person.
It was the least Mendy deserved after an incredible year for the
French-born Senegal international, the undoubted highlight of which came
at the end of last season, when he played a major role in Chelsea lifting
the Champions League trophy in Porto.
https://i.imgur.com/erY4avL.jpg
Mendy kept a clean sheet as the Blues lifted the Champions League last
season
He was named as the Champions League's best goalkeeper for 2020/21, as he
kept nine clean sheets in 12 appearances in that competition, in addition
to a number of vital saves, especially a string of stops to deny Karim
Benzema over the two legs of our semi-final against Real Madrid.
It is not just on the European scene that Mendy has been so impressive
since arriving at Chelsea in August 2019, either, having conceded just 39
goals in his 62 Blues matches in all competitions so far, keeping 38 clean
sheets in the process.
Although he didn't receive this year's Yashin Trophy, second place still
underlines the incredible journey the 29-year-old has taken, having gone
from playing in the French lower leagues and contemplating a possible end
to his professional career, to one of the world's best goalkeepers, all in
as little as six years.
Sam Kerr finishes third in Ballon d'Or Feminin
Chelsea forward Sam Kerr has finished third in this year's Ballon d'Or
Feminin after a stellar few years with Chelsea Women.
https://i.imgur.com/XLuD8mF.jpg
Sam takes bronze!
Kerr has become a vital part of Emma Hayes's squad since joining midway
through the 2019/20 season, with 43 goals in just 58 appearances.
The 28-year-old narrowly missed out on top honours, having been named on
the shortlist for the women's award for the third time in her career.
The Blues forward was pipped to the award by Barcelona Women duo Alexia
Putellas and Jennifer Hermoso into first and second, who guided the
Spanish side to the Champions League last season, defeating the Blues 4-0
in the final.
Despite just missing out on the coveted prize, the Australian is no
stranger to winning awards, having scooped the Golden Boot for the
Barclays Women's Super League 2020/21 season with 21 goals in 22 matches.
It is an accolade she received two previous times as top scorer in the US
and Australia, making her the first player to ever win it across three
different leagues, in three different continents.
As well as the Golden Boots, during her time at Chelsea the number 20 has
also secured back-to-back league and Continental Cup wins and last season
also came out top in the Community Shield, as well as reaching the final
of the Women's Champions League for the first time in the club's history.
https://i.imgur.com/bF6DCeR.jpg
Kerr (third) and Kirby (10th) were both included on the final top 10 list
Kerr's Chelsea team-mates Pernille Harder, Jessie Fleming and Fran Kirby
all made the top 10, finishing in seventh, ninth and 10th on the list.