Salah up for award... but where is Messi?

FOOTBALL EXTRA

LIONEL MESSI has failed to make the shortlist for FIFA’s world player of the year for the first time since 2006, with Mohamed Salah, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric selected instead. Messi (below) scored 45 goals as Barcelona won last season’s Spanish league and cup double. Salah makes the podium after firing Liverpool to the final of the Champions League and scoring 32 goals in the Premier League. Modric helped Real Madrid win the Champions League before leading Croatia to the World Cup final in Russia. Ronaldo and Messi have dominated the

award since 2008, with five wins each. The nominees for best coach are former Real boss Zinedine Zidane, France manager Didier Deschamps and Croatia’s Zlatko Dalic. Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris, Leicester’s Kasper Schmeichel and former Chelsea No 1 Thibaut Courtois are up for the best goalkeeper award. On the women’s shortlist is five-time winner Marta of Orlando Pride and Lyon team-mates Ada Hegerberg and Dzsenifer Marozsan. The ceremony takes place in London on September 24.