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FIFA Best Awards: Who is judging Ronaldo, Modric and Salah? 13-man panel revealed
THE FIFA BEST AWARDS take place this evening, with one of Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric or Mohamed Salah set to be named the top player in the world.
FIFA Best Awards: Ronaldo, Modric and Salah shortlisted
The FIFA Best Awards get underway in London later tonight, with a host of prizes set to be dished out for performances over the past year.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Mohamed Salah are all up for the main category of Best FIFA Men’s Player after their stellar 2017/18 campaigns.
A winner will be picked from the final shortlist by a selection of judges on a 13-man panel comprised of footballing legends.
But just who has a say in the final decision, and how much do you know about each judge?
Sami Al-Jaber
Al-Jaber is one of Saudi Arabia’s most successful players ever, appearing in four consecutive World Cup during an extensive international career.
The 45-year-old scored 46 goals during his 156 matches and was a member of the Saudi squad which triumphed at the 1996 Asian Cup.
Emmanuel Amunike
Amunike, who is currently manager of the Tanzania national team, played for Nigeria at the 1994 World Cup and helped the Super Eagles win the Africa Cup of Nations.
The winger helped Sporting Lisbon lift the Portuguese Cup ad was voted African Footballer of the Year before moving to Barcelona in 1996, where his spell in Spain was blighted by injury.
Cha Bum-kun
The 65-year-old is South Korea’s all-time leading goal scorer with 58 strikes in 136 appearances.
Cha enjoyed an extensive playing career with Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen before moving into management, overseeing the national team at the 1998 World Cup.
He has even been awarded the title of Asia’s Player of the Century by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics.
Fabio Capello
Putting aside his ill-fated reign in charge of England, Capello is still a well-respected footballing figure with an exemplary CV.
Four Serie A titles as a player have been eclipsed by his achievements in the dug-out, with the 72-year-old winning a host of leagues in Italy and Spain as well the Champions League in charge of AC Milan back in 1993/94.
Capello most recently took charge of Jiangsu Suning in the Chinese Super League but has now retired from coaching.
Didier Drogba
Drogba earned legendary status at Chelsea for his two spells at Stamford Bridge between 2004-2012 and 2014-15.
The two-time African Footballer of the Year won the Champions League with the Blues as well as four Premier Leagues, four FA Cups and three League Cups.
Captain and all-time top scorer for the Ivory Coast national team until his retirement, Drogba also enjoyed success in Turkey with Galatasaray before moving to the US where he still plays for Phoenix Rising.
Kaka
The former Brazilian midfielder was one of the leading lights in world football after bursting onto the scene in the early 2000s.
Kaka was named FIFA World Player of the Year in 2007, scooping the Ballon d’Or and the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year after AC Milan’s Champions League triumph.
He only retired from professional football last December.
Frank Lampard
Currently manager of Derby County, Lampard is better known for his time at Chelsea where he won 13 major trophies.
The 40-year-old was also a vital part of the England midfield during a 15-year international career, appearing 106 times for the Three Lions.
Lampard last played for New York City in 2015/16 before heading into his first management role at the beginning of this season.
Lothar Matthaus
Matthaus captained West Germany to victory in the 1990 World Cup and is the only German to ever receive the FIFA World Player of the Year award.
The former midfielder has played in five world cups and is the most capped German of all-time with 150 appearances.
Alessandro Nesta
The former AC Milan legend is considered one of the most complete defenders of all-time, racking up a host of honours during his 20-year career.
Nesta made the UEFA Team of the Year on four occasions while he also won the Champions League twice. Serve A three times and was also part of the World Cup-winning Italian side in 2006.
Carlos Alberto Parreira
Currently Brazil technical director, Parreira is most famous for guiding the national team to glory in the 1994 World Cup.
The 75-year-old has been managing since 1967 and also won the Copa America and Confederations Cup with Brazil, the Asian Cup with Kuwait and Saudi Arabia and the Turkish Super Lig with Fenerbahce.
Ronaldo
Ronaldo is one of the greatest strikers of all-time, starring for Brazil as they lifted the 2002 World Cup.
The 42-year-old has scored over 200 goals for club and country, was named FIFA World Player of the Year on three occasions and has picked up the Ballon d’Or twice.
Most recently Ronaldo became the majority owner of La Liga outfit Real Valladolid.
Andy Roxburgh
Roxburgh is the former manager of Scotland, having taken charge of the national side from 1986 to 1993.
The 75-year-old, who once played up front with Sir Alex Ferguson for Falkirk, is currently Technical Director of the Asian Football Confederation.
Wynton Rufer
New Zealand striker Rufer made his name in Switzerland before picking up the Bundesliga title, two German cups, two German Supercups and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup with Werder Bremen.
The 55-year-old has been named Oceania Footballer of the Year on three occasions and is a member for the FIFA Football Committee.
*Panel will also judge the Best FIFA Men’s Coach award.