The finalists are already known for FIFA’s ‘The Best’ awards in 2018, and Lionel Messi is nowhere to be seen.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Mohamed Salah, the same trio as in UEFA’s Player of the Year award which was won by Modric, are the candidates for the best player of the 2017/18 season.
The three players have achieved collective titles over the past season and have also been major players for their national teams.
A continuation of the extinct ‘FIFA Ballon d’Or,’‘The Best’ is awarded with votes from players, coaches, journalists and supporters through FIFA‘s webste.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Already focused on his new team, Cristiano Ronaldo had an outstanding season at Real Madrid, scoring 44 goals and providing eight assists in 44 matches.
A fourth Champions League was achieved thanks to his performances against Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus.
He also scored four goals with Portugal at the World Cup, including a memorable hat-trick against Spain.
Mohamed Salah
After his arrival at Liverpool, the Egyptian caught fire, scoring 44 goals and providing 16 assists.
He also led his national team to their first World Cup finals in 28 years.
A key player for the Reds in their run all the way to the Champions League final where he was injured after a clash with Real captain, Sergio Ramos.
He managed to return in time to play the last two games of the group stage at the World Cup.
Luka Modric
Modric, a recent winner of the ‘UEFA Player of the Year’ award, has had a dream year with both Real Madrid and Croatia.
The midfielder was the axis of the Los Blancos team on the road to conquering their 13th Champions League, and with Croatia, he guided his country to the greatest success in their history by reaching the World Cup final.
He was named the World Cup MVP.
Variations of ‘The Best’
Under the name of ‘The Best’ created in 2016, Ronaldo won both editions.
Previously, known as the ‘FIFA Ballon d’Or’ award since 2010, it was exclusively won by Messi and Ronaldo.
The Argentine triumphed in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, and the Portuguese in 2013 and 2014.
Prior to that, the best player of the season award was called ‘FIFA World Player’ and was held from 1988 to 2009, Marco van Basten being the first winner and Messi the last.
Winners of ‘The Best’:
– 5: Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
– 3: Ronaldo Nazario, Marco van Basten and Zinedine Zidane.
– 2: Ronaldinho and Lothar Matthaus.
– 1: Roberto Baggio, Romario, George Weah, Rivaldo, Luis Figo, Fabio Cannavaro and Kaka.
