Modric named as top player

Luka Modric has broken a decade of award dominance by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi after being crowned world footballer of the year by Fifa, while Marta won the women’s award for a sixth time.

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 their first World Cup final where they lost to France.

Messi and Ronaldo have been the only winners of world football’s main individual award from Fifa in various guises since 2008, both winning five titles each.

Messi didn’t make the three-man shortlist . Ronaldo was shortlisted but also didn’t turn up at the ceremony to be dethroned in person by his former Real Madrid team-mate. Egypt forward Mohamed Salah also made the top three for the first time.

Salah scored a record 32 goals in a 38-game English Premier League and helped Liverpool reach their first Champions League final in 11 years.

Marta won her first Fifa player of the year award since 2010 after leading Brazil to Copa America Femenina glory. She also scored 13 goals as Orlando Pride reached the NWSL playoffs.

No French player was on the shortlist but Didier Deschamps was voted manager of the year after becoming only the third man to win the World Cup as a player and coach. The coach award in the women’s game went to Reynald Pedros, who led Lyon to French league and Champions League glory.

Salah didn’t leave empty-handed, picking up the Puskas Award for his goal in the Merseyside derby in December 2017.