Luka Modric was awarded The Best FIFA Men's Player 2018 today and became the 7th midfielder to win this award in history. Let's take a look at the midfielders who have won the FIFA Best Player!
1. Lothar Matthäus
Matthäus was the first player to be awarded FIFA World Player of the Year, as he held the record of having played in five FIFA World Cups (1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998) and captained West Germany to victory in the 1990 FIFA World Cup. Matthäus is a member of the FIFA 100 list of the greatest living football players chosen by Pelé and "the best rival I've ever had" of Diego Maradona.
2. Zinedine Zidane
Zidane is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. As an elite playmaker, he is renowned for his elegance, vision, ball control and technique. Capped 108 times by France, Zidane won the 1998 FIFA World Cup. On the individual level, Zidane was named the FIFA World Player of the Year three times, in 1998, 2000 and 2003, and also winning the 1998 Ballon d'Or.
3. Rivaldo
As one of the most skilful and creative players of his generation, Rivaldo was renowned for his bending free kicks, bicycle kicks, powerful ball striking from distance, and ability to both score and create goals. He helped Brazil win the 2002 FIFA World Cup and won the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year in 1998.
4. Luis Figo
Regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation, Figo was renowned for his creativity and ability to get past defenders. He won the 2000 Ballon d'Or, 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year, and in 2004 Pelé named him in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players.
5. Ronaldinho
Regarded by many as one of the greatest of all time, Ronaldinho was renowned for his technical skills and creativity; due to his agility, pace and dribbling ability, as well as his use of tricks, overhead kicks, no-look passes and accuracy from free-kicks. He won two FIFA World Player of the Year awards and a Ballon d'Or and the 2011 FIFA World Cup.
6. Kaka
Widely considered one of the best players of his generation, Kaka's pace, creative passing, goal scoring and dribbles from midfield saw him win the FIFA World Player of the Year and the Ballon d'Or.
7. Luka Modric
Widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation and among the greatest Croatian footballers of all-time, Modric is known for his vision, precision in execution, and tactical strategy. As the core player of Real Madrid and Croatia National team, he is awarded The Best FIFA Men's Player and Ballon d'Or this year.