Juventus and Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo saw off competition from Lionel Messi and others to win the ESPY award for Best International Athlete in Men’s Soccer.
An ESPY Award is an accolade currently presented by the American broadcast television network ABC, and previously ESPN, to recognize individual and team athletic achievement and other sports-related performance during the calendar year preceding a given annual ceremony.
The ESPYs celebrate the best players, moments, coaches and games in sports. The award winners were honored Saturday at The Rooftop at Pier 17 at the Seaport in New York City.
Balloting for the award was conducted over the Internet by fans from amongst choices selected by the ESPN Select Nominating Committee.
It is Ronaldo’s fourth ESPY award after having won it in 2014, 2016 and 2018. The previous winner of the award was Lionel Messi awarded in 2019. The Argentina captain has won it three times. Due to the coronavirus pandemic last year, the award ceremony for 2020 was cancelled.
Amongst the nominees for the award was Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain/France national team), Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Argentina national team) and Mohamed Salah (Liverpool/Egypt national team)
After being named the best international athlete in men’s football for 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo took a moment to thank all the fans.
“Hi guys, thank you very much for this amazing award,” Ronaldo who was unable to attend the event said in a recorded video message. “It’s even more special when it’s voted by the fans, so thank you a lot.
“I wish to be there with you guys, but unfortunately I can’t. Thank you very much guys.”
United States and Manchester City midfielder Sam Mewis was another football player recognised in the event. She made away with the Best Female International Athlete award.
She won the award ahead of Sam Kerr (Chelsea/Australia national team), Fran Kirby (Chelsea/England national team) and Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal/Netherlands national team).
Manchester United and England star Marcus Rashford, who helped raise millions of dollars during the COVID-19 pandemic to help feed children in England, received the Pat Tillman Award for Service.
For a complete list of nominees and winners of the ESPYs, click here.
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England win
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