David Beckham received the UEFA President’s Award as Luka Modric pipped Mohamed Salah to win the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year.
Stars past and present descended on the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco on Thursday as Champions League groups and 2017-18 award winners were decided.
Former England captain Beckham was one of those that already knew they would leave with a trophy, having last week been confirmed as winner of the President’s Award.
The ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder was given the award in honour of his medal-laden career and contribution to the game.
Following the likes of Sir Bobby Charlton, Johan Cruyff and Eusebio in picking up the award, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said it “recognises outstanding achievements, professional excellence and exemplary personal qualities”.
Fresh from shining at the World Cup, Real Madrid midfielder Modric was named 2017-18 UEFA Men’s Player of the Year.
Having won the midfielder of the year award ahead of Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne and team-mate Toni Kroos, he beat fellow nominees Salah and Cristiano Ronaldo to the main award.
Ronaldo won the forward of the year crown, meaning Salah leaves Monaco empty-handed.
If that was not enough, the Liverpool forward was sat in front of Champions League final tormentor Sergio Ramos at the Grimaldi Forum.
Salah was forced off with a shoulder injury sustained by the Spaniard in May’s finale and the Real Madrid man was seen touching him on that shoulder after collecting the defender of the year award.
Real Madrid’s Keylor Navas won the goalkeeper of the season award and Wolsburg’s Pernille Harder was named Women’s Player of the Year.
