Egyptian football star Mohamed Salah has made it into the final three-man shortlist for the Best FIFA Men’s Player award for 2018.
The Liverpool star is joined by Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Juventus) and Luka Modric (Croatia, Real Madrid).
Salah’s deserved inclusion is almost shadowed by the glaring miss of Argentina and Barcelona star Lionel Messi, the first time since 2006 that he has not made it into the top three.
Finalists: #TheBest FIFA Men’s Player Award ?
?? @Cristiano
?? @lukamodric10
?? @MoSalah#FIFAFootballAwards pic.twitter.com/L1ckRiZTv6
— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) September 3, 2018
Salah enjoyed a dream debut season for Liverpool after his transfer from Italian side AS Roma, scoring 44 times and clinching the English Premier League Golden Boot award with 34 League goals.
His competitors, Ronaldo and Modric, won the Champions league together with Real Madrid. The former went on to join Italian giants Juventus after the FIFA World Cup.
Modric was last month awarded the the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year last week.
The Liverpool forward could also win a double after his stunner against Everton was nominated for the FIFA Puskas Award.
?? @MoSalah‘s derby stunner has been nominated for the 2018 FIFA #Puskas Award.
Get voting ? https://t.co/95ENRsJtIZ pic.twitter.com/PQrD5TLQWn
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 3, 2018
World Cup winning tactician Didier Deschamps has been nominated alongside Croatia’s Zlatko Dalic and former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane for the coach of the year award.
Finalists: #TheBest Men’s Coach Award ?
?? @DalicZlatko
?? Didier Deschamps
?? Zinedine Zidane#FIFAFootballAwards pic.twitter.com/zZkhVVOq6W— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) September 3, 2018
The awards are separate to the Ballon d’Or, after world football’s governing body ended its association with that honour in 2016.
The winners will be announced on 24 September at Royal Festival Hall in London.