Luka Modric was Monday night crowned the Fifa men’s best player of the year 2018 at a ceremony in London.
Marta grabbed the women’s honors while Mohammed Salah’s goal against Everton in his first Merseyside derby won the Puskas.
33-year-old Modric had an envious season, winning the UEFA Champions League for the the third straight time with Real Madrid before guiding Croatia to the Final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, losing 4-2 to France.
He became the first player other than Messi or Ronaldo to bag the gong since Kaka in 2007.
“It’s a great honour and a beautiful feeling to stand here with this amazing trophy,” Modric said.
“This trophy is not just mine, it’s for all my Real Madrid team-mates, for all my team-mates from the Croatia national team, for all the coaches that I have played for,” he added.
“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.”
Modric finished ahead of his former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, Mohammed Salah of Liverpool, PSG’s Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi of Barcelona in that order.
Marta won the women’s prize for the first time since 2010, for his sixth overall.
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The 32-year-old currently plays for the US side Orlando Pride and beat Olympique Lyonnais pair Ada Hegerberg and Dzsenifer Marozsán.
“This means so much but it is not only about me. It is about my team-mates and women’s football,” Marta said at the ceremony. “Most importantly, 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.”
World Cup winning coach Didier Deschamps of France was voted the best, while goalkeeper of the year award went to Man United’s David de Gea.
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