Real Madrid’s Modric named top player

Luka Modric broke a decade of award dominance by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi after being crowned world footballer of the year by FIFA on Monday.

Modric was voted FIFA’s best player in the 2017-18 season after winning the Champions League for a fourth time in five seasons with Real Madrid and leading Croatia to its first World Cup final where it lost to France.

“This trophy is not just mine,” the 33-year-old said. “It’s for all my Real Madrid teammates. For all my teammates in the Croatia national team. For all the coaches that I have played for.”

Messi and Ronaldo were the only winners of world soccer’s main individual award from FIFA in various guises since 2008, both winning five titles each.

Messi didn’t make the three-man shortlist and skipped the trip to London. And as a new dawn in FIFA’s awards history broke inside London’s Royal Festival Hall, Ronaldo also didn’t turn up at the ceremony to finish runner-up to his former Real Madrid teammate.

Third in the voting was Mohamed Salah, who scored a record 32 goals in a 38-game English Premier League and helped Liverpool reach its first Champions League final in 11 years.

ODDS AND ENDS

MLB: Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius hopes to return from a wrist injury this week and start in the AL wild-card game on Oct.

3. Gregorius hurt his right wrist Saturday when he slid headfirst. An MRI on Sunday revealed a small tear.

■ Rockies All-Star Trevor Story returned to the starting lineup after missing a week with inflammation in his right elbow. The slugging shortstop batted fifth in the order Monday night as the playoff-chasing Rockies opened a four-game series against the Phillies.

NHL: Brian Gionta has retired after 16 NHL seasons, two Olympic appearances and a Stanley Cup title with the New Jersey Devils in 2003. The 39-year-old forward once captained the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens. He said at a news conference Monday he wants to stay involved in hockey.