Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde believes Lionel Messi is the best player in the world despite the Argentine failing to make the final three for FIFA’s Best Men’s Player award.
Modric scooped the individual accolade at The Best FIFA Football Awards on Monday evening, fending off stiff competition from Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah.
The Croat capped off a sensational year, which saw him reach the World Cup final, clinch a fourth Champions League title with Real Madrid and win UEFA Men’s Player of the Year in August.
Despite this, Barca manager Valverde believes his star man and five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Messi, is still the greatest player on the planet after he helped the Camp Nou club clinch a domestic double last term.
FIFA’s award ceremony has come under heavy criticism in recent days after the fan-voted Puskas Award for best goal of the year was won by Mohamed Salah for his strike against Everton, with Gareth Bale’s overhead kick in the Champions League final being overlooked.
FIFA’s Best Men’s Player award had been dominated by Ronaldo and Messi for the past four years prior to Modric’s triumph, and while many had tipped the Croat to clinch the award – voted for by national team coaches, captains, select members of the media and online voting – Valverde thinks the decision was harsh on his talisman.
Speaking to reporters (via Goal), he said: “Everyone will have their opinion, I have mine.
“I do not think it’s time to compare players, but for us, Messi is the best. I have nothing else to say, [other than] Modric is a great player who has had a great year.”
The star-studded ceremony took place in London and welcomed a number of highly distinguished and decorated guests to present the awards, including former professionals and celebrities.
As a result Valverde believes modern ceremonies are becoming more about show business and entertainment rather than recognising the achievements of football stars.
He added: “Years ago there weren’t this many awards, so there wasn’t as much press coverage.
“Now there’s lots of them, every gala is a homage to something or someone. They bring stars from all over the world and they have to sell that.
“It’s covered by more press, so it becomes more controversial. It sells, in a certain way. I put it [controversy around awards] down to that.
“It’s maybe excessive, but this is what it is. It’s a sport, but more and more it’s becoming show business.”
Messi and Valverde next face Leganes on Wednesday night.
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