XtraTime Web Desk: Do you know who were the top three picks of the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane? A leading English daily has leaked the secured votes of the leading footballers and managers in the nominations of FIFA Men’s Player of the Year Award.
The votes made for a compelling read with some notable figures in the world of football making some telling decisions.
France manager Didier Deschamps, who claimed Coach of the Year after guiding his team to the World Cup, made his allegiances clear by choosing three of his players.
Deschamps gave his first vote, which awards five points, to Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann while his second (three points) and third-placed (one point) vote went to Raphael Varane and Kylian Mbappe.
It was also a surprise to see Barcelona star Lionel Messi, who finished outside the top three for the first time since 2006, hand a nomination to his arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi placed Ronaldo third on his personal list, choosing eventual winner Modric and fourth-placed Mbappe ahead of him.
Ronaldo could not find it within himself to return the favour and also surprisingly gave his top vote to his Real Madrid team-mate Varane. The French defender finished ninth in the overall vote. Perhaps sensing a challenge to his crown, Ronaldo placed Modric in second and France striker Griezmann in third.
England captain Harry Kane, who himself finished 10th with just under one per cent of the total vote, showed his striking allegiances by giving his five points to Ronaldo. He also selected Messi (second) and fellow Premier League star Kevin De Bruyne (third).