Ronaldo, Messi will miss FIFA's The Best Awards 2018

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Neither Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus nor Barcelona's Lionel Messi will attend FIFA's The Best Awards in London on Monday, reported Spanish sports newspaper Marca.

On Sunday, Marca said that Ronaldo will not be present at The Best Gala because his team is going through a tough journey of playing seven games in 21 days. Having defeated Frosinone 2-0 on Sunday, Juventus will play against Bologna on Wednesday which is why Ronaldo has decided to stay in Turin for better preparation.

Luka Modric was named UEFA Player of the Year and UEFA Champions League Midfielder of the Season in August. /VCG Photo

The Portuguese superstar also missed the UEFA's award ceremony in Monaco in August though this time he informed FIFA organizers that he will not travel to London.

Though CR7 is nominated as one of the three candidates for The Best FIFA Men's Player 2018, along with Luka Modric from Real Madrid and Mohamed Salah from Liverpool, his absence is seen by many as a sign that Modric will receive the honor.

Less than 24 hours afterward, Marca reported that Lionel Messi decided not to show up at the ceremony after Barcelona drew 2-2 against Girona on Sunday.

After winning 2018 UEFA Champions League title and World Cup Golden Ball, Modric is expected by many to take The Best FIFA Men's Player 2018. /VCG Photo

For the first time in 12 years, Messi has not made it to the final list for FIFA's player of the year. Since he is not attending, it will also be the first international award ceremony the Argentine superstar will miss since 2007. Messi will still win the Golden Boot as Europe's leading scorer last season.

Multiple awards will be announced at the ceremony including The Best FIFA Men's and Women's Players, The Best FIFA Men's and Women's Coaches, The Best FIFA Goalkeeper, FIFA Fair Play Award and FIFA FIFPro World11 and other honors.

(Top picture: Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi /VCG Photo)