Croatian Luka Modric wins Best FIFA Men's Player of the Year award
Modric wins Best FIFA player 2018 award
Croatian midfielder Luka Modric,33, was named the Best FIFA Men's Player of the Year for 2018 after his exploits for his country in the recent World Cup in Russia and his Champions League victory with Real Madrid.
"This award is not just mine. It is my teammates," Modric said while accepting the award, adding,"without my coaches, I would not have won this and without my family I would not be the player I am today."
Modric beat Egyptian and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah and Juventus star and Portugal international Christiano Ronaldo to win the coveted award. Modric did not seem to mind Salah and Ronaldo giving the ceremonya miss but added: "obviously I would have liked them to be here but they aren't."
Modric had already won the Golden Ball for being the best player at the World Cup and was instrumental in taking Croatia to the final of the tournament.
"It was an unbelievable season, the best season in my life," said Modric.
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"I'm still not realising how good a year I had collectively, individually, and I'm very proud for everything I achieved this year and it will be remembered forever."
French coach Didier Deschamps won the best coach of the year prize for leading his team to World Cup success in Russia beating Dalic and his former France teammate Zinedine Zidane. Brazil's Marta was crowned best women's player for a record sixth time for helping her team win the Copa America.
Saleh who failed to win the top FIFA award won a consolation award picking up the Puskas award for best goal for his strike against Everton last December in the English Premier League. This was the first time in 12 years Argentinian strikerand Barcelona superstar Messi did not make it to the cutoff list.
Real Madrid's Belgium international Thibaut Courtois won the Goalkeeper of the Year Award. Peru's supporters won the FIFA Fan Award and German Lennart Thy, a member of Turkish club BB Erzurumspor won the FIFA Fair Play Award after donating stem cells to help a leukaemia patient.