The famous Spanish sports daily Marca has conducted a major poll among its readers to choose the top 100 footballers in 2018. Six Croatian footballers made the list.
Voters in Spain, however, did not select Luka modrić as the best player of 2018. Instead, Leo Messi took the Marca crown, followed by Modrić and Antoine Griezmann in second and third, reports Gol.hr on January 1, 2018.
In the past year, Messi won the double crown - the Spanish championship and Cup - and was the best scorer last season. The Argentian master also leads the rankings of La Liga's top scorers this season.
Messi celebrated in front of the captain of the Croatian national team, who had the season of his career. Luka won the silver medal at the World Cup in Russia and celebrated with Real Madrid in the Champions League and Club World Cup. In 2018, Modrić also won all the most important individual awards.
In the selection of the prominent French magazine France Football, Luka won the Ballon d’Or, which is awarded to the best footballer of the year. He was also named the best player at the World Cup in Russia, was declared the best European player in the selection of the European Football Federation (UEFA) and the best player of the world in the selection of the International Football Federation (FIFA).
Additionally, the central midfielder of the Croatia national team and Real Madrid was chosen as the best football player in the world by the International Federation for Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) and was even awarded the best footballer of the year by internet portal goal.com.
Behind Messi and Modrić is the world champion Antoine Griezmann, followed by Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, Mohamed Salah, and Eden Hazard.
Among the top 100 are five more Croatian footballers. Ivan Rakitić is in the 15th position, Mario Mandžukić is ten places below Rakitić in 24th, Dejan Lovren holds the 51st place, Ivan Perišić is in 55th place, and Danijel Subašić is the 71st best footballer in the world.
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