On 24th September 2018, Luca Modric was named the best player in the world ahead of Mohamed Salah and Cristiano Ronaldo to the award.
Modric’s win broke the Lionel Messi-Ronaldo duopoly of the last 10 year having won the Champions League with Real Madrid and then played a major role in Croatia’s run to the World Cup final where they were beaten by France.
The award is based on achievements from the period of July of the preceding year to July of the present year, with an initial 10-man shortlist compiled by a panel of experts which is then open to four voting panels made up fans, journalists, national coaches, and coaches.
After this, the list will then be cut down into three final contenders by the end July. For this year, the three Best Fifa Men’s Player finalist included Virgil van Dijk, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Lionel Messi was top scorer in last season’s Champions League and won the European Golden Shoe as the continent’s top scorer. Cristiano Ronaldo was a Nations League winner with Portugal and the top scorer at the finals and Virgil van Dijk was voted man-of-the-match as Liverpool beat Tottenham Hotspur to win the Champions League for the 6th time.
Van Dijk is the favorite to replace last year’s winner Luka Modric after he was named the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year.
Ronaldo and Messi have both won the award five times, and it remains to be seen whether or not Van Dijk can beat them to the prestigious accolade or if one of the superstar duo will become the first player to win the prize a sixth time. We shall keep our fingers crossed until the announcement of the winner tonight. Who is your choice?
AUTHOR: OBAFEMI OLUGBEMIGA: obafemiolugbemiga@gmail.com