Best Fifa Football Awards 2018: Live Updates Including Luka Modric VS Cristiano Ronaldo VS Mo Salah Result

The Best Fifa Men’s Player – Luka Modric

Luka Modric wins the men’s player of the year award

Modric reacts

It’s a great honour and beautiful feeling to stand here with this trophy.

I would like to give congratulations to Mohamed and Cristiano for the great season that they had. I am sure in the future you will have another opportunity to fight for this.

This trophy is not just mine. It is for my Real Madrid team-mates, the Croatia national team and all my coaches. This is also for my family, without who I would not be the player I am.

The Best Fifa Men’s Player…

Almost time for the biggest award of the night. Ronaldo will not be picking up the award in person if he wins, but Modric or Salah are there tonight at the Royal Festival Hall. Can either of them break up the Ronaldo-Messi strangehold?

The Best Fifa Women’s Player – Marta

Ada Hegerberg (Lyon & Norway)
Dzsenifer Marozsan (Lyon & Germany)
Marta (Orlando Pride & Brazil)

Last year it was Barcelona’s Dutch midfielder who took home the award. In 2018, it is Marta who is crowned the best Fifa Women’s Player.

Her cause was helped by 13 goals and six assists in helping Orlando Pride to NWSL play-offs. She also captained Brazil to Copa America Femenina title, winning all seven games at the finals.

It’s an emotional speech from the Brazilian.

Fifa Fifpro World11

Here’s your dream team.

David De Gea

Dani Alves

Raphael Varane

Sergio Ramos

Marcelo

Luka Modric

N’Golo Kante

Eden Hazard

Lionel Messi*

Kylian Mbappe

Cristiano Ronaldo *

*Not in attendance to pick up their shiny trophies from the hat-wearing Ronaldinho and Michael Ballack

The Fifa Fair Play Award – Lennart Thy

German striker Lennart Thy missed a game for VVV-Venlo against PSV Eindhoven to donate stem cells to try and help a Leukaemia patient.

Thy, who was on loan at the top-flight Dutch club from Werder Bremen, was a DNA match.

Speaking after receiving the award, he said:

It’s a big honour for me to be here tonight and receive this award. It was a matter of course when I got asked to help someone with blood cancer.

The best thing about the story is that there are many new people who got registered in the Netherlands which makes me very proud.

The Fifa Fan Award – Peru supporters – World Cup

It’s the Peru fans who get the nod for this one, in an award voted for by the fans. Well played.

Back to the awards, next up is fan of the year

Sebastian Carrera, Coquimbo Unido – Chilean Primea B

No one expected anyone to be backing Puerto Montt in Chile’s Primera B, with the visitors making a 3,000km round trip to face Coquimbo. But Sebastián Carrera stunned his own team by arriving to cheer them on, while the hosts had to open an entire tribune just for him. The only Puerto Montt fan to witness his side’s win, the team dedicated the triumph to him and his incredible loyalty.

Japan and Senegal supporters – World Cup

While dedication and passion were clear for all to see when fans of Japan and Senegal brought noise and colour to Russia 2018, they also went beyond the call of duty as fans. Showing unrivalled respect for fellow supporters and their hosts, the images of them cleaning stadiums after their team’s games drew huge praise from onlookers worldwide.

Peru supporters – World Cup

Travelling halfway around the globe to witness your country’s first appearance at a World Cup in 36 years is an achievement alone, but the 40,000 Peruvians who descended on Russia did more than just get behind their team. While every Blanquirroja game was a cauldron of noise thanks to them, their enthusiasm and openness saw them taken to the hearts of locals and rival fans alike, bringing red and white joy to the tournament.

Awards recap

The Fifa Puskás Award – Mohamed Salah

The Best Fifa Goalkeeper – Thibaut Courtois

The Best Fifa Men’s Coach – Didier Deschamps

Best Fifa Women’s Coach – Reynald Pedros

Reynald Pedros (Lyon)
Asako Takakura (Japan)
Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands)

It’s double French coaching success! Lyon’s Reynald Pedros wins the Best Fifa Women’s Coach award. He guided his side to the league and UEFA Women’s Champions League double and also the Coupe de France Feminine final. Lyon were also unbeaten in the league. A worthy winner.

The Best Fifa Goalkeeper – Thibaut Courtois

Thibaut Courtois (Belgium & Real Madrid)
Kasper Schmeichel (Denmark & Leicester)
Hugo Lloris (France & Tottenham)

Former Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois beats Schmeichel and Lloris. It’s a short and sweet acceptance speech, including a thank you to his former Chelsea team-mates. Nice touch Thibaut.

The Best Fifa Men’s Coach – Didier Deschamps

Zlatko Dalic (Croatia)
Didier Deschamps (France)
Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid)

From one Frenchman to another…

Arsene Wenger announces Didier Deschamps as the winner of the Best Fifa Men’s Coach.

He of course led France to World Cup glory this summer and became only the third man to do so as a player and coach.

The Fifa Puskás Award – Mohamed Salah

It’s a good start to the evening for Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah. His Merseyside derby goal on Dec 10 2017 has been named the goal of the year. He wants another award tonight though, judging by his acceptance speech.

“I’m very happy and proud. I have to thank everyone who voted for me. I’m looking forward to another award tonight.”

Small talk

I lied. Forgot that the shortlist video montage would be followed by interviews with various people in the crowd. Didier Drogba and Noel Gallagher now on stage to unveil the winner though!

Fifa Puskás Award first up

We’re just making our way through a montage of the ten shortlisted goals. But the first award will be announced shortly. Promise.

Ceremony underway

Idris Elba is the man with the mic for the ceremony.

We’ve got our first emotional montage of the night. Going straight in with the World Cup highlights. I like it.

Fifa Puskás Award

Named in honor of Ferenc Puskas, it is awarded to the player judged to have scored the most aesthetically significant, or “most beautiful”, goal of the year.

Ten goals, there will be just one winner.

Gareth Bale (Real Madrid vs Liverpool)
Denis Cheryshev (Russia vs Croatia)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid vs Juventus)
Lazaros Christodoulopoulos (AEK vs Olympiakos)
Giorgian De Arrascaeta (Cruzeiro vs America MG)
Riley McGree (Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne City)
Lionel Messi (Argentina vs Nigeria, World Cup)
Benjamin Pavard (France vs Argentina, World Cup)
Ricardo Quaresma (Portugal vs Iran, World Cup)
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool vs Everton)

Fifa Fan Award

The Fifa Fan Award will come from the below trio. More on them later once the ceremony gets underway.

Sebastian Carrera, Coquimbo Unido – Chilean Primea B
Japan and Senegal supporters – World Cup
Peru supporters – World Cup

Chelsea crew

That’s quite a trio of talent there…

Didier Drogba, N’Golo Kante and Eden Hazard exchanging notes on who the better player is

Best Fifa Goalkeeper shortlist

Thibaut Courtois (Belgium & Real Madrid)
Kasper Schmeichel (Denmark & Leicester)
Hugo Lloris (France & Tottenham)

Gianluigi Buffon won it last year, here’s the three looking to take the award in 2018

Salah speaks

Salah has been having a chat on the green carpet ahead of going up against Ronaldo and Modric. Liverpool fans will no doubt like his answer to favourite goal from last season.

I’m very happy to be here. Hopefully it’s not the last time I am here. I always want to be better than last season.

My favourite goal was against Everton in the derby and scoring in that. But they were all important.

Representing my country at the World Cup was one of the best moments in my life. I was very proud.

It means a lot to be nominated tonight. If I win it I will be very happy, if I don’t I will be looking forward to next year.

Who wears it best?

With football stars streaming down the green carpet, there’s plenty to talk about. I want to talk hats right now. Who do you prefer? Ronaldinho or Gianluca Vialli? Is it hat weather in London tonight?

Ronaldinho goes for a white hat Credit: John Sibley/Reuters

Italian former player Gianluca Vialli poses in his hat Credit: AFP/Getty Images

Hazard wants ‘pal’ Salah to win

Obviously the main award of the night is the Best Fifa Men’s Player which, for the first time since 2007, is missing Lionel Messi from the shortlist.

Instead it is Cristiano Ronaldo up against Luka Modric and Mo Salah.

Eden Hazard is in attendance tonight and he says he would like close friend Mo Salah to win. Not sure if that’s who he was blowing a kiss to below…

Best Fifa Women’s Player shortlist

Ada Hegerberg (Lyon & Norway)
Dzsenifer Marozsan (Lyon & Germany)
Marta (Orlando Pride & Brazil)

England’s Lucy Bronze was on the running to make the shortlist but in the end it was Ada Hegerberg, Dzsenifer Marozsan and Marta who made the final top three.

Best Fifa Women’s Coach

Reynald Pedros (Lyon)
Asako Takakura (Japan)
Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands)

Reynald Pedros saw his side to league and UEFA Women’s Champions League double, last year’s winner Sarina Wiegman helped the Dutch make an undefeated start to Women’s World Cup qualifying while Asako Takakura guided Nadeshiko to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup title. All good claims to the title this year.

Family time

No shortage of family members accompanying individuals on the green carpet tonight. Sure those photos will make a lovely addition to the family photo albums…