It looks like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's decade-long domination of the FIFA player of the year award might be under threat this year when the award is announced in London on Monday night. The first sign of such a change was witnessed earlier this month when Lionel Messi failed to make it to the top three for the first time in 12 years.
However, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo was saved from blushes as he made the cut along with former Real Madrid teammate and Croatian midfielder Luka Modric and Liverpool's Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah.
For the last ten years, both Messi and Ronaldo have dominated the awards, holding five awards each. Ronaldo started the trend in 2009 and since then either it has been the Argentine genius or the Portuguese master who has taken the award home.
With a third straight Champions League title with Real Madrid earlier this year, Ronaldo could well be on his way to edge past Messi for his sixth title. His 15 goals in the last edition of the Champions League and four goals at the World Cup, including a hat-trick against Spain in a thrilling 3-3 draw to open Portugal’s campaign, just makes his case stronger.
However, the odds are against Ronaldo and a new winner is likely to emerge this time, courtesy Portugal's last 16 exit to Uruguay in Russia and Ronaldo's failure to score in the semi-finals or final of the Champions League. In that case, Modric might end up being the lucky one.
Excelling at both his club and national side, Modric led from the front and took Croatia to their first World Cup finals where they lost to France 2-4. The Croatian captain, who is the most important cog in Madrid midfield, was equally important in Madrid's third consecutive Champions League success. Modric also scored two goals for the runners-up of the tournament.
Egypt’s Mo Salah is also part of the final trio for the first time after an incredible 44-goal debut season with Liverpool that also saw his side in the finals in Champions League. But, a shoulder injury suffered early on in the final saw him out of the match and dented Liverpool’s chance to lift the trophy.
In Russia, Salah personally had a good outing but unfortunately couldn’t take his side further than the first round. He scored in each of his two appearances, but Egypt bowed out with three defeats.
Apart from the best footballer award, awards for coaches will also be up for grabs. France's World Cup-winning coach Didier Deschamps is the favourite for the best coach award ahead of Croatia’s Dalic and former Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane, who led Real Madrid to three Champions League triumphs in just two-and-a-half-years, before stepping down.
France captain Hugo Lloris, Denmark's Kasper Schmeichel and Belgium's Thibaut Courtois will be fighting it out for the best goalkeeper award.
Even if Messi and Ronaldo don’t win the best player award, they might still not return home empty handed, as both are in contention for the Puskas award for best goal along with Gareth Bale.
Messi’s only World Cup goal against Nigeria and Ronaldo's superlative bicycle kick against Juventus in the Champions League quarter-finals are among 10 goals on the shortlist. Gareth Bale for his acrobatic strike for Madrid in the Champions League final has also been nominated for the award.
Lyon's Norwegian striker Ada Hegerberg and German midfielder Dzsenifer Marozsan are joined by Brazilian five-time winner Marta of Orlando Pride for the best women's player after their successful Champions League campaign with the French giants.
Meanwhile, Reynold Pedros of Lyon, Japan boss Asako Takakura and Netherlands coach Sarina Wiegman are vying for best women’s team coach.
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