Ramos Snubs Ronaldo As Favourite For The Best FIFA Men's Player Prize

While Lionel Messi was snubbed for The Best FIFA Men's Player 2018 shortlist last week, Cristiano Ronaldo was named among the final three candidates, but who does Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos feel deserves the award?

Ronaldo made the three-man shortlist alongside Liverpool attacker Mohamed Salah and Los Blancos midfielder Luka Modric.

However, despite many tipping the Portuguese to be the favourite for the award, Real captain Ramos has insisted it is the Croatian veteran who should win the accolade.

"Maybe other players have more marketing or bigger names, (but) Modric deserves to win the award," he said, according to Sport.

"We will see who wins. He's a great friend and there are few players I feel prouder of to have in my team.

"He's a huge star. He's one of the few people who (if he wins) I'd be as happy for as if they gave it to me."

Modric won as many trophies as Ronaldo did last season, but his performances for Croatia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup may set him apart from his former colleague.

'Ronaldo Goes Missing In Big Games'

Cristiano Ronaldo's goals may have helped Real Madrid lift four UEFA Champions League titles over the past five years, but a Juventus legend believes the superstar goes missing in big games.

The Portugal captain joined the Serie A giants in a club record deal, but is yet to score an official goal for his new side. He left Los Blancos as their record goalscorer, and is also the all-time leading goalscorer in the UEFA Champions League as well as for his national team.

However, former Juventus and Germany defender Jurgen Kohler has now questioned Ronaldo's ability to turn up on the big occasions.

"There are no two opinions about Ronaldo's qualities. He holds many records in Spain. He has managed to win the major trophies. You have to pay tribute to him," he told Sport1.

"However, I must say that you rarely see Ronaldo in the decisive matches. Then he goes on to score the goal to make it 4-1, with a penalty, and wants to be celebrated for it. But that's the way he is, too."

Kohler did, though, praise Ronaldo for his work ethic, which he believes sets the 33-year-old apart from his peers.

"I talked about him to a lot of people," he added.

"Everyone is fascinated because he also works a lot on the pitch. Only the true champions are willing to work more. That applies to Ronaldo. That's the difference between world-class players and the regulars."

Ronaldo is the only player to have scored in three different UEFA Champions League finals, but failed to score in Real's UCL final triumph over Liverpool last season. In addition, he is also yet to score in a knockout stage at a World Cup.

Modric: What CR7 Told Me After I Was Named UEFA Player of The Year

Real Madrid star Luka Modric has revealed what Cristiano Ronaldo said to him after he beat the Portuguese to the UEFA Player of the Year award.

The Croatia international was nominated alongside Liverpool frontman Mohamed Salah and his former Los Blancos teammate, who did not attend the prestigious ceremony.

After Croatia's 1-1 draw with Portugal on Thursday, Modric revealed that he has spoken to Ronaldo since the awards evening, and that the Juventus star did congratulate him, despite reports suggesting the Bianconeri forward was unhappy he did not win it himself. 

"I am happy to be in another big award final (The Best FIFA Men's Player award), we'll see what will happen," the midfielder told RTP3.

"I have a good relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo and we'll have a good relationship in the future too. Individual awards are important but I'm not obsessed with them.

"Cristiano sent me a message, congratulated me and told me he is happy for me and I deserved it. He also said he can't wait to meet me again."

Last season, Modric and Ronaldo helped Real Madrid lift their third consecutive UEFA Champions League title.

Cristiano Ronaldo Tops Highest-Paid Serie A Stars List

With Cristiano Ronaldo earning more than three times as much as the second highest-paid player in Serie A, here are the 12 top earners in Italy.

The 33-year-old joined Juventus from Real Madrid in a club record deal, and also became the league's top-earning player in the process, pocketing €31 million (R530 million) a year after deductions, according to a salary overview by Gazzetta dello Sport.

In doing so, Ronaldo earns over €20 million (R342 million) more annually than second-placed Gonzalo Higuain, who is understood to receive €9.5 million (R162 million) a season. The Portugal captain's teammate Paulo Dybala completes the top three with an annual net salary of €7 million (R120 million).

Juventus playmaker Miralem Pjanic recently put pen to paper on a new contract with the Serie A champions, which sees him earn €6.5 million (R111 million) yearly. He is followed by Bianconeri winger Douglas Costa and AC Milan shot-stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who both pocket €6 million (R103 million) a season.

Leonardo Bonucci is the seventh highest-paid player in Italy after agreeing on a €5.5 million (R94 million) deal upon his return to Juventus. Emre Can, who joined the Old Lady on a free deal in the latest window, receives €5 million (R85 million) a year, while Napoli's Lorenzo Insigne gets €4.6 million (R79 million) annually.

Inter Milan stars Mauro Icardi and Radja Nainggolan, and AS Roma striker Edin Dzeko, who are all on an annual salary of €4.5 million (R77 million), complete the top earners in Italy, according to the report.

Meanwhile, Juve boss Massimilliano Allegri is the top earner among the coaches, receiving €7.5 million (R128 million) a year, which is €1 million (R17.1 million) more than new Napoli boss Carlo Ancelotti. Inter's Luciano Spalletti completes the three highest-earning coaches with an annual salary of €4.5 million (R77 million).

'Ronaldo Deserved UEFA Award Ahead Of Modric'

Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo should have been crowned UEFA's 2017/18 Men's Player of the Year ahead of his former teammate Luka Modric, according to Portugal manager Fernando Santos.

Selected coaches and journalists from all around Europe decided voted for the Croatian playmaker to win the coveted award, despite former Real Madrid forward Ronaldo scoring 15 goals in the UEFA Champions League last season.

Santos, Portugal's national team manager, was recently asked if he agreed with the outcome of the voting for the award.

"The vote for the best of FIFA is not mine. If it was mine, Ronaldo was the champion," Santos said, as quoted by FourFourTwo.

"Ronaldo is the champion for me. And in second place, I'd put Modric. But the rest of votes come from the public, journalists, other coaches, there are many people, so the decision will be announced at the right date.

"There's a previous list, as I've already said, Modric is a fantastic player, that's why I've put him in second. But in this previous election, I think Cristiano should've been the winner for all he did at that period of time and especially at the Champions League."

Ronaldo made 44 appearances for Los Blancos last season, scoring 44 goals and assisting a further eight strikes.