This combo picture released on Dec. 27, 2018 shows the top 10 world athletes in 2018 selected by Xinhua News Agency. Top line from left to right are Luka Modric (Croatia),Novak Djokovic (Serbia), Simone Biles (USA),Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya),Marit Bjorgen (Norway); bottom line from left to rights are Zhu Ting (China), Yuzuru Hanyu (Japan),Lewis Hamilton (Britain) ,Wu Dajing (China),Katinka Hosszu (Hungary). (Xinhua)
BEIJING, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Following are the top 10 world athletes in 2018 as selected by Xinhua News Agency:
1. Luka Modric (Croatia)
Modric, 33, won the FIFA Best Player of the Year on September 24 and the Ballon d'Or award on December 3, marking the first time in a decade that the two awards were not shared by Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. He helped Real Madrid win an unprecedented third straight UEFA Champions Leauge and spearheaded Croatia to its first World Cup final as team captain. He was named Golden Ball at the Russia World Cup.
File photo taken on June 21, 2018 shows Luka Modric of Croatia celebrates his scoring during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Group D match between Argentina and Croatia in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. Modric, 33, won the FIFA Best Player of the Year on September 24 and the Ballon d'Or award on December 3, marking the first time in a decade that the two awards were not shared by Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. He helped Real Madrid win an unprecedented third straight UEFA Champions Leauge and spearheaded Croatia to its first World Cup final as team captain. He was named Golden Ball at the Russia World Cup. (Xinhua/Li Ga)
