The Best FIFA Football Awards 2021: times, nominees, and how to watch in the USA?

The 2021 Best FIFA Football Awards gala will be held today, Monday, January 17. It is the sixth edition organized by FIFA after disassociating itself from France Football and the Ballon d'Or in 2016.

On November 22, FIFA announced all the nominees for player of the year. The eyes of the planet will be mainly on what will happen in the men's category that will award the best footballer of 2021. After an official nomination of 11 stars, the list has been narrowed down to three candidates: Argentina's Lionel Messi, Poland's Robert Lewandowski, and Egypt's Mohamed Salah.

In addition, the women's category will feature Barcelona's Spanish players Jennifer Hermoso and Alexia Putellas, along with Chelsea's Australian Sam Kerr. There will also be space for the most outstanding coaches of 2021, the ideal Men's and Women's XI will be announced and there will be a Fair Play award and the Puskás award for the best goal of the year.

How to watch the FIFA Best Awards 2021?

The Best Awards ceremony can be followed online via FIFA's YouTube channel (FIFATV), the FIFA website, or Facebook.

What time does The Best Awards 2021 ceremony start?

US:

ET: 13:00

CT: 12:00

MT: 11:00

PT: 10:00

UK:

Time: 18:00

Awards and nominees:

Male Footballer of the Year

Robert Lewandowski (Poland - Bayern Munich)

Lionel Messi (Argentina - Barcelona / PSG)

Mohamed Salah (Egypt - Liverpool)

Women's Footballer of the Year

Jennifer Hermoso (Spain - Barcelona)

Sam Kerr (Australia - Chelsea)

Alexia Putellas (Spain - Barcelona)

Men's Football Coach of the Year

Pep Guardiola (Spain - Manchester City)

Roberto Mancini (Italy - Italy National Team)

Thomas Tuchel (Germany - Chelsea)

Women's Football Coach of the Year

Lluís Cortés (Spain - Barcelona)

Emma Hayes (England - Chelsea)

Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands - Netherlands National Team / England National Team)

Men's Goalkeeper of the Year

Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy - Milan / PSG)

Édouard Mendy (Senegal - Chelsea)

Manuel Neuer (Germany - Bayern Munich)

Women's Goalkeeper of the Year

Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany - Chelsea)

Christiane Endler (Chile - PSG / Lyon)

Stephanie Lynn Marie Labbé (Canada - Rosengard / PSG)

Hedvig Lindahl (Sweden - Atletico Madrid)

Alyssa Naeher (United States - Chicago Red Stars)

Puskás Award

Érik Lamela (Tottenham vs. Arsenal, Premier League)

Patrik Shick (Czech Republic vs. Scotland, European Championship)

Mehdi Taremi (Porto vs. Chelsea, Champions League)

How is voting for The FIFA Best Awards?

The Best Awards have two phases in their voting process. A panel of soccer experts chooses the 10 nominees. The second phase involves one specialized journalist per country and the captains and national coaches who vote for the best player. The starting eleven, meanwhile, is voted on by the players themselves from all over the world.