Modric has been announced as the new FIFA best player for the year 2018 a few minutes ago by FIFA and world football managers and players alike.
The Croatian Luka Modric beats previous winner and former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo and Liverpool’s winger Salah, to the most prestigious award in world football.
The Real Madrid star midfielder is winner the award for the first time in his career, after a fantastic World cup outing in Russia with his country. He also won the UEFA champions League with Real Madrid.
After a very eventful and also successful 2017-2018, Modric while receiving the award had this to say:
“It’s a great honour and a beautiful feeling to stand here with this amazing trophy,” said former Tottenham midfielder Modric.
“This trophy is not just mine, it’s for all my Real Madrid teammates, for all my teammates from the Croatia national team, for all the coaches that I have played for. Without them this would not be possible and thank you a lot to them.
“This trophy is also for my family, without whom I would not be the player and person that I am.”
Ronaldo finished second and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah was third while Messi failed to make the top three for the first time since 2006.
Egyptian Salah didn’t end the evening empty-handed, however, walking away from the Royal Festival Hall with the year’s best goal, for his strike against Everton last season.
Real Madrid’s former Chelsea stopper Thibaut Courtois beat off competition from Leicester’s Kasper Schmeichel and Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris to win the best goalkeeper accolade.
France’s Didier Deschamps was named coach of the year for masterminding their World Cup triumph in Russia.
“We all know that being a coach, alone we can’t do anything,” “We are nothing without our players and I want to thank my whole team who worked to get me here and get me this trophy.”said Deschamps.
Brazil’s Marta was voted the world’s best female player, the sixth time she has won the award but the first since 2010.
“This means so much but it is not only about me,” she said.
“It is good to see women’s soccer grow each year. If I keep doing well and that can help off the field too, then I am happy.”
The FIFA FIFPro World XI of the year 2018 did not go down well with alot of people, especially the English fans who questioned FIFA selection.
They questioned the team of the Year list that’s had the inclusion of David De Gea and not Courtois, despite the fact the latter won the individual goalkeeper of the year award and the golden glove at the world cup.
They also questioned the inclusion of Barcelona star man, Messi who got the nod over England’s Harry Kane, even when the Argentine experience at the just concluded Russia World Cup was nothing to write home about.
English captain and Spurs striker Kane missedsed out despite winning the World Cup golden boot and scoring 30 goals in 37 games in the Premier League for Spurs.
The Best Fifa awards: All the winners:
Fifa Puskas Goal of the Year: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) vs. Everton
Coach of the Year:
Didier Deschamps (France)
Goalkeeper of the Year:
Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea/Real Madrid/Belgium)
Best Women’s Coach:
Reynald Pedros (Lyon)
Fifa Fan Award: Peru fans
Fair Play Award: Lennart Thy
Best Women’s Player: Marta (Orlando Pride/Brazil)
Best Men’s Player: Luka Modric (Real Madrid/Croatia)
Fifa FIFPro World XI of the Year 2018:
Goalkeeper:
David De Gea (Spain, Manchester United)
Defenders:
Dani Alves (Brazil, Paris Saint-Germain),
Raphael Varane (France, Real Madrid),
Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid)
Marcelo (Brazil, Real Madrid)
Midfielders:
Luka Modric (Croatia, Real Madrid), N’Golo Kante (France, Chelsea), Eden Hazard (Belgium, Chelsea)
Forwards:
Kylian Mbappe (France, Paris Saint-Germain),
Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona),
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid/currently Juventus)