1. Luka Modric (Serbia)

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.