Lionel Messi has been omitted from the shortlist for FIFA player of the year award, which features Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Mohamed Salah. Barcelona forward Messi had featured in the top three for 11 straight years. He was runner-up in 2007 and 2008 before winning the title for the first of five years in 2009.

Portugal and Juventus forward Ronaldo, like Messi, is a five-time winner, and has reached the top three alongside Real Madrid midfielder Modric and Salah, the Liverpool forward. Messi's subsequent wins came in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015, while Ronaldo won the title in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.