WILL MODRIC TAKE FIFA CROWN?

The finalists for the Best FIFA Men’s Player award for the year are Luka Modric, Crisitiano Ronaldo and Mohammed Salah. With the Croatia international recently winning the UEFA Player of the Year award, he is likely to lift the award on the world stage. The 2018 World Cup Player of the Tournament is set to be the first player to break the duopoly for a decade, giving room for a fresh face in many years.

Lionel Messi, five time Ballon d’Or winner, missed out of a podium finish in over a decade. It feels strange that the Argentine did not make the cut despite his achievements last term. He was the highest goalscorer in the La Liga; he skippered Barcelona to wrestle the league title from Real Madrid and added a local double. On the world stage, he helped Argentina to the World Cup finals even though he could not inspire them to go far at the tournament proper. (more…)