Quality Sport Images/Getty Images Real Madrid's Luka Modric claimed the 2018 Best FIFA Men's Player award ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah on Monday. The Croatian midfielder won the UEFA Champions League for a third successive year with Real back in May before leading his country to the 2018 FIFA World Cup final. His triumph ends a 10-year monopoly of FIFA's top men's award by Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Modric, 33, hailed his team-mates and family upon accepting the award, per Pippa Field of the Telegraph: "It's a great honour and beautiful feeling to stand here with this trophy. I would like to give congratulations to Mohamed and Cristiano for the great season that they had. I am sure in the future you will have another opportunity to fight for this. "This trophy is not just mine. It is for my Real Madrid team-mates, the Croatia national team and all my coaches. This is also for my family, without who I would not be the player I am." Modric has been included in the FIFA FIFPro World XI in each of the last four years and is finally receiving the recognition he has long deserved with individual accolades. He played a vital role in Real's Champions League triumph, starting 11 of their 13 matches in the campaign. Video Play Button Videos you might like But he was most eye-catching as he captained Croatia to the World Cup final before they lost to France. Modric was recognised with the Golden Ball award at the end of Russia 2018. And he has now broken the Messi-Ronaldo stranglehold as a result of his consistent excellence.<doc-sep>Last updated on .From the section European Football Luka Modric was crowned as the best men's player of the year at the awards ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall in London Luka Modric was named the world's best male player at the Best Fifa Football Awards in London. The Real Madrid midfielder, 33, beat former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, now with Juventus, and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah to the award. Modric won his third Champions League title in a row in May and guided Croatia to their first World Cup final in July. Brazil and Orlando Pride forward Marta won the best female player award. France's Didier Deschamps - whose side beat Modric's Croatia 4-2 in the World Cup final - was named best men's coach. Salah received the Puskas award for the best goal, for his effort against Everton in the Premier League at Anfield last December. Peru's supporters won the Fifa Fan Award after many thousands of them flew to Russia in support of their nation - playing at the finals for the first time since 1982. This accolade was voted for solely by supporters. Peru fans made plenty of noise before their country's final game at the World Cup against Australia What's the difference between the Ballon d'Or and Best Fifa? This is the third edition of the Best Fifa Football Awards, set up after football's world governing body ended its association with the Ballon d'Or award. A version of the Ballon d'Or has been awarded by France Football magazine since 1956, but was merged with Fifa's World Footballer of the Year award from 2010 to 2015. The governing body then introduced the Best Fifa Football Awards, with Portugal international Ronaldo the first recipient of its main prize in January 2017. Voting for the player and coach categories was conducted by national team captains and managers, selected journalists and, for the first time, an online poll of fans. Each accounted for 25% of the total. Best Fifa men's player - Luka Modric Luka Modric ended Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's dominance of the best individual accolades in world football, which had stretched back to 2007, when Kaka won the Ballon d'Or. Modric made 56 appearances for club and country as he won the Champions League and reached the World Cup final - beating England in the semi-final - in what he admitted before the ceremony was his "best season ever". Former England international Chris Waddle, working as a BBC Radio 5 live pundit, indentified Modric as the type of player that Gareth Southgate's men were missing in that semi-final because of his ability to single-handedly influence games with his understanding and distribution. Incidentally, England manager Southgate voted for Modric. The former Tottenham midfielder won the Golden Ball award for the best player in the World Cup after their final defeat by France. He scored in Croatia's opening two matches of the group stages and also set up one goal. Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic paid tribute to his talisman after the result was announced, saying the midfielder is like "my assistant in the field". "Luka Modric is the captain of my team, he's the best player in my team and in the world, and he deserves this award," said Dalic. After receiving the award, Modric said he was "honoured" and thankful to all the coaches he has worked with for getting him to this stage. "This award is not just mine. 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," said Modric. Luka Modric was awarded the Fifa Golden Ball after the World Cup final for the best player at the tournament Men's player - top three 1st: Luka Modric - 29.05% 2nd: Cristiano Ronaldo - 19.08% 3rd: Mohamed Salah - 11.23% Best Fifa women's player - Marta Brazil and Orlando Pride forward Marta won the award for the best female player for the sixth time. Her first recognition from Fifa for being the best female player in the world came in 2006. She led Brazil to the Copa America Femenina title in April, as they won all seven matches - although she only scored one of their 31 goals. Marta scored 13 goals and set up six more as Orlando Pride reached the NWSL play-off semi-finals in the United States - earning herself a place in the league's team of the year. "This means so much, but it is not only about Marta, it is about my team-mates and women's football," said the 32-year-old. "Most importantly, it is good to see women's soccer grow each year. If I keep doing well and that can help off the field too, then I am happy." Marta was named best women's player in the world for the sixth time Women's player - top three 1st: Marta - 14.73% 2nd: Dzsenifer Marozsan - 12.86% 3rd: Ada Hegerberg - 12.60% Fifpro World XI Fifa made five changes to the side selected in 2017. Kylian Mbappe, 19, was rewarded with a place in the side after winning the award for the best young player at this summer's World Cup for his impressive performances for France. There was also room for Chelsea and Belgium forward Eden Hazard, and his club mate N'Golo Kante, while Manchester United's David de Gea was named in goal and Real Madrid's Raphael Varane took his place in the heart of the defence. However, there was no place in the World XI for Thibaut Courtois, who was voted as the best goalkeeper in the world, or Salah, a best men's player of the year finalist. Best men's coach - Didier Deschamps France's Didier Deschamps won the award for the best men's coach in 2018. The former Marseille, Juventus and Chelsea midfielder captained his country as they won the World Cup in 1998, before guiding them to victory again in Russia in July. Deschamps won the trophy ahead of former club and international team-mate Zinedine Zidane - who won his third successive Champions League title before resigning as Real Madrid manager - and Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic, whose side lost to France in a thrilling final in Moscow. "I would like to thank Zinedine Zidane and Zlatko Dalic. They are both winners," said the French manager. "We are nothing without our players. I would like to thank the whole team. They worked hard to get me here tonight." Didier Deschamps was presented with the award by former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger Men's coach - top three 1st: Didier Deschamps - 30.52% 2nd: Zinedine Zidane - 25.74% 3rd: Zlatko Dalic - 11.81% Best women's coach - Reynald Pedros Former France men's midfielder Reynald Pedros took Lyon to the league and Women's Champions League double in his first season in charge. Two of his players, Ada Hegerberg and Dzsenifer Marozsan, were nominated for the best women's player award. Women's coach - top three 1st: Reynald Pedros - 23.15% 2nd: Sarina Wiegman - 15.31% 3rd: Asako Takakura - 12.80% Puskas award for best goal - Mohamed Salah The Fifa Puskas award, named after the iconic former Hungary forward Ferenc Puskas, is given to the player who scored the best goal of 10 nominations. Mohamed Salah's stunning effort to open the scoring for Liverpool in his first Merseyside derby was the winner. The Egyptian's sublime curling finish towards the end of the first half at snowy Anfield, in December 2017, was later cancelled out by a Wayne Rooney penalty in a 1-1 draw. Other nominations included two spectacular Champions League goals from winners Real Madrid - Cristiano Ronaldo's overhead kick against Juventus and Gareth Bale's similarly acrobatic finish in the final against Liverpool. With success in the award for the best goal, and having been nominated in the best player category, the 26-year-old says he is hungry for more individual recognition. "I'm sure it is not the last nomination because I always want to be better than last season," said Salah. "My favourite goal was the one against Everton because it was my first derby, but all of them were very important." "[Playing for Egypt in the World Cup] was one of the best moments in my life and this is the dream for us as Egyptians, and human beings, to play at the tournament." Mohamed Salah gave Liverpool the lead in his first Merseyside derby in December 2017 Best goalkeeper - Thibaut Courtois Former Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was announced as the best goalkeeper. Courtois played every minute of Belgium's seven matches at the World Cup, as the country went on to claim third place - their highest finish at the tournament. The 26-year-old beat Leicester City and Denmark's number one Kasper Schmeichel, and Tottenham's World Cup-winning goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who captained France in Russia. "I would like to thank my team-mates and my coaches - they always give the best advice," said Courtois. Thibaut Courtois completed a £35m move to Real Madrid from Chelsea after the World Cup Fair play VVV-Venlo striker Lennart Thy missed his side's Eredivisie game against PSV Eindhoven in March to donate stem cells to try to help a leukaemia patient. The 26-year-old German, who was on loan at the top-flight Dutch club from Werder Bremen, joined the donor register seven years ago and was a DNA match.<doc-sep>
Real Madrid's Luka Modric claimed FIFA's The Best award for 2018 to end Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's decade-long hold on world football's top player prize. The Croatia midfielder won with 29 percent of the votes, coming in ahead of Ronaldo (19 percent), Mohamed Salah (11.2 percent), Kylian Mbappe (10 percent) and Messi (9 percent), who along with Ronaldo skipped the ceremony. Modric was presented with the award following a ceremony in London on Monday night. "This award is not just mine. It is my teammates' 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," said 33-year-old Modric. Ronaldo and Messi had won every FIFA World Player of the Year award, which was renamed the FIFA Ballon d'Or in 2010 and The Best in 2016, since 2007 when Kaka was victorious. Modric becomes the first Croatian player to win the award after an outstanding year for club and country. He was instrumental in winning Real Madrid's third Champions League title in as many seasons, while he captained Croatia to their first World Cup final, winning the Golden Ball at the tournament. Modric ousted former teammate Ronaldo and Liverpool's Salah on the final three-man shortlist to win, after beating the same pair to win UEFA's Men's Player of the Year award for the 2017-18 season. Ronaldo scored 44 goals in all competitions in his final season for Real Madrid, while Salah netted the same amount for Liverpool in 52 games, while also breaking the Premier League record for most goals in a 38-game season with 32. However, neither's accomplishments were enough to take home the prize. In addition to the top player award, Salah's curling, left-footed strike in an Oct. 12, 2017 match against Everton won the Puskas Award for the best goal. France boss Didier Deschamps took home the prize for best manager after leading Les Bleus to their second World Cup title with a 4-2 triumph over Croatia in the July final. Deschamps' victory was the second straight year a French coach has won the award. Former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane was honored in 2017. Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois was voted the best goalkeeper. The former Chelsea man helped Belgium to the semifinals of the World Cup before losing to eventual champs France. Lyon's Reynald Pedros won women's coach of the year, Peru fans won the FIFA fan award, the FIFA Fair Play honor was given to former VVV-Venlo striker Lennart Thy, and Brazil's Marta was named the female player of the year for the sixth time. David De Gea, Dani Alves, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Marcelo, Luka Modric, N'Golo Kante, Eden Hazard, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Cristiano Ronaldo were named to the FIFPro World XI.