Chelsea honoured as team of the year at Ballon d'Or ceremony after UCL triumph

Chelsea were announced as the inaugural winner of the Club of the Year award at the Ballon d'Or ceremony on Monday night in Paris.

Chelsea have been named the 2021 Club of the Year at the Ballon d'Or awards ceremony. It has been a year to remember for Chelsea in 2021 following both success on and off the field for both the Men's and Women's teams. Success for the Academy, Women's and Men's team sees the Blyes collect the inaugural award at the Ballon d'Or ceremony.v

The award - which comprises the achievements of both the men’s and women’s team - comes at the end of a fantastic season for the club.

Under Thomas Tuchel, who replaced Frank Lampard in January in the dugout at Stamford Bridge, the Blues reached the FA Cup final and won the Champions League by beating Manchester City in the final in Porto.

The European champions have hit the ground running this season, winning the European Super Cup against Villarreal in August and are currently first in the Premier League, one point clear of City.

Chelsea Women, meanwhile, won a second consecutive Women Super League title - their third in four seasons - and successfully defended the League Cup they had won in 2020.

Emma Hayes' team just missed out on a famous Treble, losing in the Champions League final to Barcelona.

'It's a nice trophy because it's for the club,' Tuchel said in a video message from London.

'We have a very successful women's team and academy. We're happy to have this award. We had a lot of players nominated.'

Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta added: 'We'd like to be there with you. Unfortunately we couldn't come. I'm really proud of this moment, this award.'

Hayes, who attended the ceremony in person, said she hoped the players will be able to be present at next year's extravaganza - this week marks the international break for women's football.

On an individual basis, it was an impressive night for the European champions.

Jorginho finished third overall in the men's rankings behind Lionel Messi, who won the award for a record seventh time, and Robert Lewandowski, while Ngolo Kante finished fifth.

Edouard Mendy, meanwhile, was runner-up to Italy's Gianluigi Donnarumma in the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper and Sam Kerr finished third in the women's Ballon d'Or rankings.