5 Most Surprising Outcomes at the FIFA BEST Awards

The FIFA BEST awards were presented on Monday night, with Luka Modric awarded the player of the year ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah.

While that was very much earned, there were a few surprising things that happened yesterday at the ceremony that left fans scratching their heads.

Here are five most baffling outcomes at the FIFA BEST awards.

5. No Ronaldo or Messi at the Ceremony

Two players who have been regulars at the awards ceremonies over the last decade and kept winning all the major individual awards seemed to have suddenly found other things to do when somebody else was slated to win on the night.

Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi showed immense disrespect to their fellow footballers by choosing not to come to the ceremony as they found excuses to not travel just because they wouldn't be winning the top prize.

4. Salah in Best Player Shortlist But Not in FIFPro XI

Mohamed Salah had a phenomenal season last year, scoring 44 goals in 52 games in all competitions. He was shortlisted for the BEST player of the year award, eventually ending third.

However, he was surprisingly omitted from the FIFPro XI, leaving everyone baffled as to how one of the top three players in the world last season could not get into the team.

3. Eden Hazard in the FIFPro XI

There were many other such baffling additions and omissions in the FIFPro XI, with Eden Hazard being added to the team at the expense of Salah. Hazard had a good season without a doubt, but Chelsea weren't particularly successful, winning only the FA Cup and managing a fifth place finish in the league.

Though he was instrumental in Belgium finishing third at the World Cup, it still was very surprising to see him in the team.

On the other hand, Liverpool were in the top four with Salah scoring as many goals as Ronaldo and they also reached the Champions League final. And yet, it was Hazard who was chosen.

2. Dani Alves in the FIFPro XI

Dani Alves is without doubt a fantastic right-back, but he played only 31 games for Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 and Champions League combined. Not only that, he could not make it to the World Cup due to an unfortunate injury in the French Cup final.

His inclusion in the FIFPro XI baffled a lot of fans and made them question the choice repeatedly.

1. De Gea in FIFPro XI But Courtois Won the Best Goalkeeper Award

Thibaut Courtois was another baffling ommision from the FIFPro XI. He was deemed the best goalkeeper of the previous season and yet somehow does not find a place in the best team of the season.

Instead, the goalkeeper's spot was given to David de Gea, someone who did not even make it to the shortlist for best goalkeeper. Despite having a great season for Manchester United, somehow his position in the FIFPro XI seems a little odd now.

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