Fifa best player Modric to enthral UAE fans
People in the UAE expect the best of everything and this tournament is a chance to see the world’s best here in the UAE
Ahmed Al Qubaisi
abu dhabi — The Fifa Club World Cup UAE 2018, which takes place in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi from Dec. 12-22 can proudly lay claim to hosting the world’s best after Croatian midfield maestro Luka Modric was named the world’s Best Male Player at the Fifa Best Awards in London on Monday night.
The award capped a stellar few months for the playmaker, who followed up victory at the Fifa Club World Cup UAE 2017 by helping Real Madrid to a historic hat trick of Uefa Champions League titles, before captaining his country Croatia to a first Fifa World Cup final appearance in Russia this summer.
Joining Modric on the honours board at the Fifa Best Awards were Real Madrid teammates Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Marcelo who, along with Modric, were named in the FIFPro World XI. The Spanish club registered more representatives in the XI than any other club side.
Next stop for Modric and co. will be right here in the UAE this December when Real Madrid line up to defend the Fifa Club World Cup trophy. Modric was the star of the show in 2017 and was awarded the Alibaba Cloud Trophy as the tournament’s Outstanding Player following Los Blancos’ 1-0 final win over Brazilian side Gremio at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Modric will be hoping for a similar outcome when the European kings enter the tournament at the semifinal stage on Wednesday, Dec. 19.
Ahmed Al Qubaisi, Marketing & Communications Director, Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the Fifa Club World Cup UAE 2018, said: “People in the UAE expect the best of everything and this tournament is a chance to see the world’s best teams in action right here in the UAE. Now we also have the official world’s best player coming to Abu Dhabi. What better reason to come see football at the highest level with the best of the best teams?”