CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Jorginho and Putellas win UEFA Player of the Year awards
Chelsea and Italy midfielder Jorginho was named UEFA's men's Player of the Year for 2020-21 while Barcelona's Alexia Putellas won the women's award.
Chelsea and Italy midfielder Jorginho was named UEFA's Men's Player of the Year for 2020-21 on Thursday while Barcelona's Alexia Putellas won the women's award.
Brazilian-born Jorginho, 29, won the Champions League and Euro 2020 with club and country this year. Chelsea's Thomas Tüchel was voted men's coach of the year and Barcelona's Lluis Cortés took the trophy for women's coach.
Champions League games subject to covid-19 restrictions
De Bruyne, second
The awards were announced at the Champions League group stage draw in Istanbul. Jorginho was already cast as the favourite on an all-midfield short list of three, with Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne and Chelsea team mate N'Golo Kanté the other contenders. UEFA said Jorginho had won 175 points in the voting by coaches and journalists, to De Bruyne's 167 and Kanté's 160. Argentine Lionel Messi, a six times Ballon d'Or winner, was fourth with 148.
Spain midfielder and Barcelona captain Putellas, who beat club team mates Jenni Hermoso and Lieke Martens to the Women's Player of the Year award, won the women's Champions League as the Catalans beat Chelsea 4-0 in the final at the Ullevi in Gothenburg in May.