Following the experts' votes from 90 countries, IFFHS has awarded Croatia captain Luka Modrić as the best playmaker in 2018, topping three-times winner Lionel Messi and Eden Hazard. Croatia vice-captain Ivan Rakitić was placed at No. 11 among the playmakers.
Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalić finished second among the national team coaches. World champion Didier Deschamps of France won with 304 points; runner-up Dalić earned 198 ahead of third-placed Roberto Martinez of Belgium (84).
Danijel Subašić, Croatia goalkeeping hero of the FIFA World Cup, took ninth place among the best goalkeepers, with Thibaut Courtois winning the accolades.
Furthermore, Club Brugge head coach Ivan Leko is at No. 14 among this year's best club coaches, alongside Jose Mourinho, Jose Cardozo, and Quique Flores. Zinedine Zidane took the top spot.
