Ronaldo, Modric, Salah Battle for FIFA’s Best Player Award

*Messi’s goal against Super Eagles nominated for Puskas award

Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Mohamed Salah are the finalists for Best FIFA Men’s Player award for 2018.

Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, missed out on a place in the top three.

Messi’s opening strike against Nigeria at the World Cup in St Petersburg was nominated for the Puskas award for best goal of the season.

There was also no place for any member of France’s World Cup winning squad.

Lyon’s Champions League winning duo Ada Hegerberg of Norway and Germay’s Dzsenifer Marozsan are the finalists for Best FIFA Women’s Player, alongside Brazil forward Marta.

Portugal winger Ronaldo, the 2016 and 2017 winner, won a fifth Champions League title with Real Madrid in May before joining Juventus for £99.2m.

Real midfielder Luka Modric was named the World Cup 2018’s player of the tournament as Croatia reached the final against France.

Egypt forward Salah scored 44 goals as Liverpool reached the Champions League final, losing to Real.

Modric beat Ronaldo and Salah to win the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year last week.

England striker Harry Kane, who won the World Cup Golden Boot and was on the original 10-man shortlist, has also missed out.

Didier Deschamps, who led France to the World Cup, is nominated for coach of the year, alongside Croatia’s Zlatko Dalic and former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane.

The awards are separate to the Ballon d’Or, after world football’s governing body ended its association with that honour in 2016.

A panel of FIFA legends and experts drew up 10-man shortlists for each award and a jury consisting of national team captains, coaches, selected journalists and fans choose the winner, each group accounting for 25% of the vote.

Ronaldo’s overhead kick against Juventus and Gareth Bale’s overhead kick against Liverpool in the Champions League final are among the 10 nominees for the Puskas award for best goal, which is voted for by the fans.

The winners will be announced on 24 September at Royal Festival Hall in London.

MEN’S PLAYER
Cristiano Ronaldo – Juventus & Portugal

Luka Modric – Real Madrid & Croatia

Mohamed Salah – Liverpool & Egypt

WOMEN’S PLAYER
Ada Hegerberg – Lyon & Norway

Dzsenifer Marozsan – Lyon & Germany

Marta – Orlando Pride & Brazil

MEN’S COACH
Zlatko Dalic – Croatia

Didier Deschamps – France

Zinedine Zidane – former Real Madrid

WOMEN’S COACH
Reynald Pedros – Lyon

Asako Takakura – Japan