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Santos: Ronaldo deserved UEFA award ahead of Modric

Cristiano Ronaldo and not Luka Modric should have been crowned UEFA's 2017-18 Player of the Year, according to Portugal head coach Fernando Santos.

Ronaldo scored 15 goals to lead Real Madrid to a third successive Champions League crown last season but the five-time Ballon d'Or winner lost out to former team-mate Modric.

Modric won the most votes from coaches and journalists as Ronaldo – who left Madrid for Italian champions Juventus in the off-season – opted to skip the Monaco ceremony last month.

Asked about the decision to overlook Portugal captain Ronaldo, Santos told reporters: "The vote for the best of FIFA is not mine.