Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy reacted to winning The Best Goalkeeper of 2021 by thanking family, clubs, and country
By Kehinde Okeowo
Chelsea and Senegal goal tender Edouard Mendy has revealed he is proud to be the first African to win FiFA’s Best Goalkeeper Award
The 29-year-old made this known via his Instagram page, where he also thanked the clubs which gave him the opportunity to reach the height, his family, and his country, Senegal.
The award is given to the most outstanding goalkeeper in men’s football and the ceremony took place in Zurich, with Mendy handed the individual award for his performance last year.
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The Senegal international who is currently representing his country at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon, promised not to rest on his laurels and advised aspiring goalkeepers to always believe in themselves.
He wrote: “What a pride to receive this award today. I am even prouder to be the first African goalkeeper in history to win this title, and I hope to pave the way for many others.
“The first word that comes to my mind is THANK YOU.
“Thank you to my companion, my children, my family, and all those around me. Thank you to the French clubs that trained me and allowed me to evolve. Thank you to my club Chelsea, my coach, the staff, and the players. Thank you to my country, Senegal, my coach and his staff, and all the players of my selection.
“I will continue to work hard, as I have always done, to maintain this level of performance and win new titles.
“To conclude, I would just like to say: believe in yourself, in your dreams, always give your best, trust yourself, everything is possible.”
The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper Award is given to the most outstanding goalkeeper in men’s football as voted for by an international jury comprising the current coaches of all men’s national teams (one per team).
Other members include current captains of all men’s national teams (one per team), one specialist journalist from each territory represented by a national team, and fans registered on FIFA.com’
Mendy beat off competition from last year’s holder, Germany & Bayern Munich keeper Manuel Neuer and Gianluigi Donnarumma of PSG and Italy.
Liverpools’ Alisson Becker and Leicester Citys’ Kasper Schmeichel missed out on the top three but their Premier League colleague, Mendy lifted the trophy.
The Senegalese has been in fantastic form for Chelsea since arriving at Stamford Bridge and he capped off a wonderful year by lifting the UEFA Champions League in his first season with the club.