Croatian footballer Luka Modric was named the world's best male player at the Best Fifa Football Awards in London.
The Real Madrid midfielder, 33, beat former team-mate, Cristiano Ronaldo, now with Juventus, and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah to the award, BBC reported on Monday.
Modric, who was recently named UEFA player of the year had a fantastic World Cup. He took the heavily unfavoured Croatia all the way to the summit clash before losing to France in the final. Modric was rewarded by being given the Golden Ball award as the best player of the tournament. Mohammed Salah, who led Liverpool to reach the UEFA Champions League final, had also been shortlisted for this award for the first time. Ronaldo, along with former teammate Modric won the UEFA Champions League for the fourth time in five years. Ronaldo has also won back-to-back awards in the last two years.
Brazil and Orlando Pride forward Marta won the best female player award.
France's Didier Deschamps -- whose side beat Modric's Croatia 4-2 in the World Cup final -- was named best men's coach after being given the award ahead of Zinedine Zidane, who at the time was the manager of Real Madrid and also Croatian national coach Zlatko Dalic.
Salah received the Puskas award for the best goal, for his effort against Everton in the Premier League at Anfield last December.
Peru's supporters won the Fifa Fan Award after many thousands of them flew to Russia in support of their nation -- playing at the finals for the first time since 1982. This award was voted for solely by the supporters.
'With IANS inputs'