Society Gists

Croatia and Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric has won the FIFA award for the best men’s player of the year, beating fellow nominees Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah to claim the award for the first time.
Modric, 33, topped the vote for the award, which is decided on by the national coaches of FIFA Member Associations, their team captains, a media representatives from those countries, and fans.

It is the Croatian captain’s first award, and comes in recognition of guiding his nation to their first ever World Cup final this summer in Russia, as well as helping club team real Madrid to a third Champions League title in a row.

Modric’s award adds to his recent UEFA Player of the Year accolade, and means he is the first player other than Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to win the top FIFA award in the last 10 years.

Modric enjoyed a successful spell with club team Real Madrid, helping them win a third consecutive Champions League crown in May, which was his fourth triumph in the competition in total.

He went on to lead his country at the World Cup in Russia, being instrumental in their shock run to the final, where they lost to France 4-2.

Modric was handed the Golden Boot for the best player of the tournament, and now received FIFA’s top individual honor to add to that award at a star-studded bash at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Monday.