Luka Modric named best male player at FIFA awards

Croatia and Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric was named the world's best male footballer at the Best FIFA Football Awards in London, beating Cristiano Ronaldo and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah for the prestigious honour.

The 33-year-old Modric was recognised after an exceptional year in which he played a key role in both club and international football. He helped Real Madrid win the Champions League for a third consecutive season in May before leading Croatia to their first-ever World Cup final in Russia in July.

Croatia eventually lost the final 4-2 to France, but Modric's performances throughout the tournament earned him the Golden Ball as the World Cup's best player and further strengthened his claim for the FIFA award.

The award also marked a significant achievement for Modric, who had spent much of his career playing in the shadow of football's biggest individual stars, particularly Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. His success in 2018 reflected the impact he had on Croatia's historic World Cup campaign as well as Real Madrid's continued dominance in Europe.

Ronaldo, Modric's former Real Madrid teammate who had moved to Juventus, finished among the leading contenders, while Salah was also shortlisted after a prolific season with Liverpool.

Brazilian forward Marta won the Best FIFA Women's Player award. Marta, who was playing for Orlando Pride, added another major individual honour to a career widely regarded as one of the finest in women's football.

France coach Didier Deschamps was named the Best FIFA Men's Coach after guiding his team to the World Cup title. France defeated Modric's Croatia in the final to lift the trophy for the second time in their history.

Salah did take home an award of his own, winning the FIFA Puskas Award for the best goal of the year. His curling effort against Everton in the Premier League at Anfield in December 2017 was selected for the honour.

The FIFA Fan Award went to supporters of Peru, who were recognised for their remarkable backing of the national team during the World Cup in Russia. Thousands of Peruvian fans travelled to the tournament as their country returned to the World Cup finals for the first time since 1982.

Unlike the other major awards, the Fan Award was decided entirely through a supporters' vote, highlighting the enthusiasm and dedication of Peru's travelling fans.