Luka Modric has been named UEFA Men's Player of the Year ahead of former Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah. The midfielder picks up the award after guiding Real Madrid to a third straight Champions League title and inspiring Croatia to the World Cup final - where they lost to France. Modric received 313 points in the voting to finish ahead of three-time winner Ronaldo (223pts), who has gone on to join Juventus after scoring 44 goals in 44 games for Real last season. Salah came third (134pts) after a stellar first season at Anfield, having scored 44 times in all competitions as Liverpool finished fourth in the Premier League and runners-up to Real in Europe. Image: Luka Modric won the FIFA Golden Ball at the World Cup after helping Croatia reach the final, where they lost to France A jury of 80 coaches from last season's Champions League and Europa League group stages, as well as one journalist from each of UEFA's 55 member associations, chose their top three players. Their first pick received five points, the second three points and third one point. Coaches could not pick players from their own team. Image: Cristiano Ronaldo will target a sixth Champions League title at Juventus after winning one with Manchester United and four at Real Madrid Meanwhile, a quartet of positional awards were handed out, with goalkeeper Keylor Navas and defender Sergio Ramos winning their respective categories, with Modric the Midfielder of the Season and Ronaldo Forward of the Season. Women's Player of the Year was given to Pernille Harder (Wolfsburg & Denmark), who beat Ada Hegerberg (Lyon) and Amandine Henry (Portland Thorns/Lyon & France) to the award. OFFICIAL: @PernilleMHarder is the UEFA 2017/18 Women’s Player of the Year🥇 Fantastic achievement, Pernille 🙌 🇩🇰 pic.twitter.com/RtBtrMt2Wg — UEFA (@UEFA) August 30, 2018 Former Manchester United, Real Madrid and England midfielder Beckham received the 2018 UEFA President's Award, which according to UEFA "recognises outstanding achievements, professional excellence and exemplary personal qualities". Among others to receive the award are Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, Eusebio and Sir Bobby Charlton. The Europa League Player of the Season will be awarded on Friday, with Diego Godin, Antoine Griezmann, Dimitri Payet the three names on the shortlist. UEFA awards (winners in bold - others shortlisted) Men's Player of the Year: Luka Modric, Cristiano Ronaldo, Mohamed Salah Women's Player of the Year: Pernille Harder, Ada Hegerberg, Amandine Henry Goalkeeper of the Season: Keylor Navas, Alisson Becker, Gianluigi Buffon Defender of the Season: Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Raphael Varane Midfielder of the Season: Luka Modric, Kevin De Bruyne, Toni Kroos Forward of the Season: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Mohamed Salah<doc-sep>Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder Luka Modric was voted Player of the Year for last season by European soccer body UEFA, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah with Lionel Messi fifth. The 32-year-old helped Real Madrid win the Champions League for a third season running and then led Croatia to the World Cup final. Ronaldo, who was his Real Madrid team mate last season and has now joined Juventus was second, with Liverpool and Egypt forward Salah third. French World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann of France was fourth, followed by Messi of Barcelona and Argentina. Modric is only the third player other than Ronaldo and Messi to win the award since it was introduced in 2011. UEFA said the award recognises the best players who play for a European club, regardless of nationality. Players are judged on their performances in domestic, continental and international competitions.<doc-sep>Real Madrid's Luka Modric has edged out Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah to win the 2017-18 UEFA Player of the Year award. Modric's excellent season at the Bernabeu was recognised at the Champions League draw in Monaco on Thursday, with UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin on hand to present the prize to the Croatia international. Thursday's win caps off a stellar 12 months for the 32-year-old, who also won the Golden Ball for his performances in helping Croatia finish as runners-up at the World Cup in Russia. Modric's was one of many for Real Madrid on a trophy-laden night, with Blancos custodian Keylor Navas named as UEFA Champions League Goalkeeper of the Season ahead of Gigi Buffon and Alisson, Sergio Ramos recognised as the Defender of the Season over teammates Marcelo and Raphael Varane, Modric winning Midfielder of the Season ahead of Kevin De Bruyne and Toni Kroos, and Ronaldo pipping Lionel Messi and Salah to the Forward of the Season award. UEFA also named the Women's Player of the Year at the ceremony, with Wolfsburg's Pernille Harder beating Lyon duo Ada Hegerberg and Amandine Henry to the top prize. David Beckham was also recognised on the night, receiving the 2018 UEFA President's Award from Ceferin for his "outstanding achievements, professional excellence and exemplary personal qualities," while San Jose Earthquakes defender Guram Kashia won the inaugural #EqualGame award for his support of the LGBTQ community last season.<doc-sep>
The Croatia international's exploits for Los Blancos on their way to a third successive Champions League title have been rewarded with the prize Luka Modric has been named the UEFA Men's Player of the Year for 2017-18, seeing off competition from Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah. The Real Madrid midfielder was crowned at the ceremony for the Champions League group stage draw on Thursday. Modric, who has been with the Spanish side since 2012, featured 11 times as Madrid continued their dominance of the Champions League, scoring once and adding a single assist. But it was his conviction in possession and ability to turn defence into attack with just one pass that made him so vital to Los Blancos' success. His former team-mate Ronaldo – who scored 15 goals in last season's competition and winner of the previous two awards – and Liverpool star Salah were considered leading candidates due to their respective displays in attack. But Modric, who also claimed the Golden Ball at the World Cup, won the most votes from coaches and journalists to seal the award. "I would like to dedicate this to my coaches and my team-mates, " said Modric. "They are there in the good moments and also the not so good moments so this is for them." Champions League winners Madrid dominated the individual awards, winning every single one for the men's game. Keylor Navas, Sergio Ramos and Ronaldo won the respective accolades for best goalkeeper, defender and forward, while Modric took the prize for most impressive midfielder. Article continues below Pernille Harder of Wolfsburg and Denmark was named 2017-18 UEFA Women's Player of the Year, beating Ada Hegerberg and Amandine Henry in the voting. Meanwhile, Georgia international defender Guram Kashia won the inaugural UEFA #EqualGame Award for his taking a stand for diversity by wearing a rainbow armband in support of LGBT rights in the face of intense criticism from his homeland.