Fifa Football Awards 2018: Lionel Messi snubbed from FIFA awards while Ronaldo, Modric, Salah fight for best player

For the first time since 2006, Cristiano Ronaldo could claim a record sixth Fifa men's player of the year award while five-time winner of the award Lionel Messi failed to make it to the final three despite a magnificent season for Barcelona. 

The winners of these prestigious award will be announced on 24 September at an event in London.Three football players including Cristiano Ronaldo, adidas Golden Ball winner Luka Modric or Liverpool’s electric Egyptian Mohamed Salah will be awarded the top prize at FIFA's The Best awards after the final shortlists were leaked.

For the Barcelona star Lionel Messi 'Fifa Men's Player of the year Award' wins came in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015, while Cristiano Ronaldo won the title in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.

This prestigious award was first introduced as the Fifa World player of the year prize (1991-2009).

As reported in Daily Telegraph,“I really hope Modric will win because I think what he did in the World Cup was really special,” said legendary former Manchester United and Denmark goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel in his role as a FIFA ambassador on Monday.

“He’s this quiet guy we know from Real Madrid, but when we saw him in the World Cup he became a majestic leader. He was wearing the captain’s armband, leading from the front, first guy to put a tackle in, and we saw a side of Luka Modric I hadn’t seen before.”

Also Read: Shocking! Lionel Messi out of Argentina squad; coach Lionel Scaloni unsure about his future