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Real Madrid veteran Luka Modric picked teammates Vinicius Jr., Jude Bellingham, and Dani Carvajal as his three choices for the 2024 FIFA The Best Men’s Player award. The award ceremony is taking place today (December 17) in Doha, Qatar.
Real Madrid enjoyed a stellar 2023-24 season, with Vinicius Jr., Jude Bellingham, and Dani Carvajal being extremely crucial throughout their campaign. Under Italian tactician Carlo Ancelotti, Los Blancos won La Liga, the UEFA Champions League, and the Supercopa de Espana.
Vinicius Jr. was the side's highest scorer with 24 goals and 11 assists in 39 games across competitions. The Brazilian winger evolved into a true big-game player, coming up in clutch situations to turn the tables for Los Blancos. This was especially evident in the UEFA Champions League, where he helped his side win their record-extending 15th title.
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Jude Bellingham joined the Spanish giants in the summer of 2023 for a reported transfer fee of €113 million (via Transfermarkt). In his first season, he was one of the top scorers for Real Madrid, registering 23 goals and 13 assists in 42 games across competitions. The Englishman was also instrumental for his national side, helping them reach the Euro 2024 finals.
According to FIFA's official documents featuring the votes for the 2024 FIFA The Best Men’s Player award, Luka Modric ranked Vinicius Jr. first among his top three picks. The Brazilian was followed by Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal in second and third positions, respectively.
Dani Carvajal had a trophy-laden 2023-24 season, winning the UEFA Champions League, La Liga, and the Supercopa de Espana with Real Madrid and Euro 2024 with Spain. The Spaniard registered 41 appearances for Los Blancos last season, scoring six goals and creating five more.
Luka Modric once expressed his views on playing with Lionel Messi
Luka Modric once said that he never wanted to play alongside Lionel Messi on the pitch. The two Ballon d'Or winners have shared a longstanding rivalry for club and country. They have shared the pitch 27 times in the past with the Argentine genius winning 10 games. Luka Modric, meanwhile, has won 12 with five resulting in stalemates.
They last faced each other in the semi-final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup when Croatia clashed against Argentina. La Albiceleste defeated Luka Modric's side 3-0 and progressed to the final. They went on to defeat France at the Lusail Stadium to win their second World Cup.
In a 2018 interview with France Football, Luka Modric claimed that he would never play alongside Lionel Messi. He said (via OneFootball):
"I play against him, not with him. Obviously, Messi is one of the best players in history, but I will never play with him."
At present, both Modric and Messi are at the twilight of their respective careers. While the Croatian great continues to play for Real Madrid, Lionel Messi is filling stadiums in the United States with MLS side Inter Miami.
