London: Croatian Luka Modric ended Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s decade-long domination of football’s individual awards by being crowned FIFA’s ‘Best player of the Year’.
Brazil’s Marta was crowned best women’s player for a record sixth time for her role in winning the Copa America to beat out Lyon duo Ada Hegerberg and Dzsenifer Marozsan.
Real Madrid midfielder Modric starred for both club and country as Real won a third straight Champions League, and he inspired Croatia to reach the World Cup final for the first time.
“The emotion is huge because it is thanks to the work of everyone. So many people have come together and so many have supported me,” said Modric after receiving the trophy here, Monday.
Modric beat Liverpool’s Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah and Ronaldo, who along with Messi did not attend the glitzy awards ceremony here.
Both are in action Wednesday for Juventus and Barcelona, but their no-show attracted criticism after so many years on top. “Everyone has their own reasons,” said Modric when asked about Messi and Ronaldo’s absence. “Obviously I would have liked them to be here but they aren’t.”
At 33, Croatia’s run to the final was the culmination of a brilliant career for Modric that had often been overshadowed by Ronaldo’s goalscoring in their time together in the Spanish capital.
Modric scored twice and also netted in penalty shootout wins over Denmark and Russia, but it was his playmaking ability that caught the eye in winning the ‘Golden Ball’ for the best player at the World Cup.
“It was an unbelievable season, the best season in my life,” said Modric. “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.”
For the first time in 12 years, Messi was not among the finalists with Salah earning a place on the podium for his incredible 44-goal debut season with Liverpool that carried the Reds to the Champions League final.
Salah did not go away empty-handed, however, as he picked up the ‘Puskas Award’ for best goal for his strike against Everton in the Merseyside derby last December.
France’s World Cup-winning coach Didier Deschamps won the ‘Best coach of the Year’ prize in recognition for his work in leading Les Bleus to success in Russia.
Deschamps, who became just the third man to win the World Cup as a player and coach, beat off competition from Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic and his former France teammate Zinedine Zidane, who won a third consecutive Champions League title with Real Madrid before resigning in June.
Thibaut Courtois won the best goalkeeper award for helping Belgium reach the World Cup semifinals as well as the FA Cup with Chelsea before a summer move to Madrid.
Best player (Men) Luka Modic
Best player (Women) Marta
Best coach Didier Deschamp
Best Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois
Best goal Mohamed Salah