Juventus great Alessandro Del Piero believes Luka Modric deserved to be named UEFA Player of the Year ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Modric helped Real Madrid to a third consecutive Champions League title before inspiring Croatia's run to the World Cup final in Russia.
European football's governing body rewarded the 32-year-old midfielder's achievements with its annual gong in Monaco last Thursday, although former Madrid team-mate did not attend the gala.
Ronaldo himself has been quiet on the subject, but the player's sister Katia Aveiro, his agent Jorge Mendes and Juventus president Giuseppe Marotta all weighed in on his behalf, before Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic responded by labelling the five-time Ballon d'Or winner an "egoist".