The Daily Mail newspaper of Britain has reported that Luka Modric, the Croatian football captain who plies his trade for Real Madrid Football Club in Spain, had revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of Portuguese and player of Juventus, sent him a touching message after he won the UEFA Player of the Year award.

Mendes, Ronaldo’s agent, who negotiated the forward’s summer move to Juventus, had blasted the decision as “ridiculous” and “shameful.” But the agent’s sentiments were seemingly not echoed by Ronaldo himself, with Modric revealing on Thursday, September 6, that he had in fact received a congratulatory message from the Portuguese.

“I am happy to be in another big award final [FIFA’s The Best], we’ll see what will happen,” he told RTP3 after Croatia’s draw with Portugal.

“I have a good relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo and we’ll have a good relationship in the future too. Individual awards are important but I’m not obsessed with them.

“Cristiano sent me a message, congratulated me and told me he is happy for me and I deserved it. He also said he can’t wait to meet me again.”

Modric enjoyed a stellar season for club and country, helping Real Madrid to a third consecutive Champions League title as well as leading Croatia to the final of the World Cup in Russia. His performances from the heart of midfield drew widespread acclaim, and the pair will again go head-to-head to win FIFA’s The Best later this month.

Mohammed Salah of Egypt is the final nominee for the award, which takes places in London on September 24.

– Sept. 7, 2018 @ 14:47 GMT