Croatia and Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric has won the FIFA award for the best men’s player of the year, beating fellow nominees Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah to claim the award for the first time.
Modric, 33, topped the vote for the award, which is decided on by the national coaches of FIFA Member Associations, their team captains, a media representatives from those countries, and fans.
It is the Croatian captain’s first award, and comes in recognition of guiding his nation to their first ever World Cup final this summer in Russia, as well as helping club team real Madrid to a third Champions League title in a row.