Football news - Luka Modric wins FIFA Best award to end Ronaldo-Messi duopoly

Updated 24/09/2018 at 21:56 GMT

Luka Modric has ended the Ronaldo-Messi duopoly after being named the Best FIFA Men’s Player, while Brazil legend Marta secured the women’s award for a record sixth time.

Luka Modric, The Best

Image credit: Getty Images

The midfielder enjoyed a stellar 2017-18 campaign, helping Real Madrid win a third straight Champions League before captaining Croatia to a maiden World Cup final – a feat that saw him claim the Golden Ball in Russia.

Modric’s coronation marks the first time that Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi have failed to take home the award, which previously overlapped with the Ballon d’Or, since Kaka won in 2007.

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The 33-year-old finished with 29.05% of the vote, with Juventus forward Ronaldo (19.08%) and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (11.23%) taking second and third.

"This award is not just mine," he said. "It is my team mates' from Real Madrid and Croatia. Without my coaches, I would not have won this and without my family I would not be the player I am today."

On a night of surprises, Marta edged Lyon duo Ada Hegerberg and Dzsenifer Marozsan in the women’s award, while Salah took home the Puskas Award.

Lyon enjoyed an unbeaten league season and clinched the Champions League, with Hegerberg finishing as the tournament's top scorer with a record 15 goals.

Salah’s mazy goal against Everton was deemed the greatest goal of the 2017-18 season in the fan poll, beating acrobatic efforts from Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo in the Champions League.

Best FIFA Men’s Player: Top 10

1. Luka Modric (29.05%)
2. Cristiano Ronaldo (19.08%)
3. Mohamed Salah (11.23%)
4. Kylian Mbappe (10.52%)
5. Lionel Messi (9.81%)
6. Antoine Griezmann (6.69%)
7. Eden Hazard (5.65%)
8. Kevin De Bruyne (3.54%)
9. Raphael Varane (3.45%)
10. Harry Kane (0.98%)

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