Wednesday 26 September 2018

Luka Modric ended Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s decade-long domination of football’s individual awards by being crowned FIFA’s best player of the year on Monday. The Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder starred for both club and country as Madrid won a third straight Champions League, and he inspired Croatia to reach the World Cup final for the first time. He beat Ronaldo and Liverpool’s Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah to the prize. Modric’s success means Ronaldo remains tied with Messi having won FIFA’s award in different guises five times each. At 33, Croatia’s run to the final was the culmination of a brilliant career for Modric that had often been overshadowed by Ronaldo’s goal scoring in their time together in the Spanish capital, before the Portuguese left for Juventus in July. ADVERTISEMENT Modric scored twice and also netted in penalty shootout wins over Denmark and Russia, but it was his playmaking ability that caught the eye in winning the Golden Ball for the best player at the World Cup. “It was an unbelievable season, the best season in my life,” said Modric. “I’m still not realising how good a year I had collectively, individually, and I’m very proud for everything I achieved this year and it will be remembered forever.” For a sixth straight season, Ronaldo was the Champions League’s top scorer with 15 goals and also scored four times at the World Cup, including a hat-trick against Spain in a thrilling 3-3 draw to open Portugal’s campaign. However, 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 opened the door for Modric.


Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho says he has "no problem" with Paul Pogba despite telling the midfielder he will not captain the club again.

Mourinho told Pogba he is no longer United's "second captain", reportedly because of concerns about his attitude.

"The only truth is that I made the decision for him not to be second captain any more but there is no fallout, no problem," Mourinho said.

"I am the manager I can make these decisions."

Speaking on Sky Sports he added: "No fallout at all, no problem at all, just a decision that I don't have to explain."

World Cup winner Pogba, 25, was told of the decision in the build-up to Tuesday's Carabao Cup exit to Derby.

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Pogba tried to play down his comments in a tweet on Monday.

But in his programme notes for Tuesday's game, which Derby won on penalties, Mourinho said he was unhappy with some members of his squad.

"[The game against Wolves was] an important lesson; a lesson that I repeat week after week after week, a lesson that some boys are not learning," he said.

"Every team that play Manchester United are playing the game of their lives, and we need to match that level of aggression, motivation and desire - 95% isn't enough when others give 101%."

France international Pogba, who was not named in the matchday squad against Derby, watched from the stand as Ashley Young captained the side. Antonio Valencia is United's club captain.

Before the game, Mourinho said: "They are rested. I gave a rest to Luke Shaw, to Paul, to Victor Lindelof, to Antonio Valencia, to David de Gea. I have to play with a good team."

Following Saturday's 1-1 draw, Pogba said he wanted the team to be able to "attack, attack, attack" at Old Trafford.

"We are at home and we should play much better against Wolves. We are here to attack," he said.

"When we play like [that] it's easier for us."

Pogba, who rejoined United from Juventus for a then world record fee in 2016, fell out of favour last season and suggested he was dissatisfied at Old Trafford.

France boss Didier Deschamps recently said the perception of Pogba as "individualistic" was inaccurate, and that he was misunderstood by fans and the media.

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