Impressive and winner of the Champions League, Edouard Mendy was logically selected among the three finalists for the title of best goalkeeper of the competition. Indeed, the UEFA unveiled this Friday, August 13, the list of nominees of the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League Awards.
The Senegalese goalkeeper is the only African who appears on the list of nominees. On its official website, UEFA announced on Friday the names of the players shortlisted to win the award for best goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and striker of the 2020/2021 Champions League Awards.
Mendy, who had an exceptional season (22 clean sheets including 8 in the Champions League), is the favourite to win the Best Goalkeeper Award. After an outstanding individual performance last season’s Champions League, Mendy hopes to win the trophy for best goalkeeper of the last edition of the Champions League. For this, the goalkeeper of the Senegalese national team will have to take the award from Brazilian goalkeeper Moraes Ederson of Manchester City and Belgian goalkeeper Thibault Courtois of Real Madrid.
As for the best defender of the season, Chelsea, the reigning European champions have two representatives: Spaniard Cesar Azpilicueta and German Antonio Rüdiger, both Chelsea stars are up against Portuguese defender Ruben Dias. The same case for the position of best midfielder; Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) is also nominated but do not stand a chance against the two favourites N’Golo Kanté and Jorginho.
Regarding the nominees for the best striker trophy, they are Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint Germain) Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund) and Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich).
The names of the winners will be announced on Thursday, August 26, during the group stage draw in Istanbul, Turkey. It should be remembered that the nominees were chosen by a jury made up of the coaches of the 32 teams that played in the Group Stage of the last Champions League and 55 journalists who represent each of the UEFA member federations.
NOTE❗We are aware that Kante and Antonio Rüdiger are of Africa descent and their parents are from Africa. Mendy, Kante, and Antonio Rüdiger were all born outside Africa to African parents. Edouard Mendy could have chosen to represent France, but he didn’t. We’re not trying to demean (Kante and Antonio Rüdiger), they’re our brothers. But priority wise, Mendy decided to represent Senegal, something that many International athletes of Africa descent that are representing the Europeans couldn’t do. One Love✊🏿.