Luka Modric, Croatian professional footballer who won the Champions League title with Real Madrid and also led Croatia to the World Cup final has won the 2018 Ballon d’Or Prize.
At a star studded ceremony in Paris, France, on Monday, December 3, 2018, he beat Ronaldo , Griezmann, Mbappe and Messi to clinch the title.
Modric claimed the France Football’s prize, which was previously dominated by Ronaldo and Messi, after his outstanding performance at the 2018 World Cup.
Modric’s win has ended a 10-year run in which Juventus forward, Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona star, Lionel Messi, traded the possession of the award. Ronaldo came second this year, his record sixth runner-up finish (to go with five wins). Atlético Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann was third followed by teenage sensation Kylian Mbappé.
Barcelona star, Messi who won a league with Barcelona but didn’t flourish in the World Cup with Argentina, finished fifth place.
The voting was carried out by soccer journalists and overseen by the magazine France Football.
Modric, 33, is the first Croatian to win the Ballon d’Or. He is the seventh player from Real Madrid to lift the trophy, breaking a tie with Barcelona players.
“It’s a unique feeling,” he said as he accepted the award. “I’m happy, proud and it’s an honor. Extraordinary emotions at the moment.
“I just want to thank all those who helped me to be here tonight. I thank my teammates, my coaches, the staff and Real Madrid, all those who work there, the coaches and teammates in the national team, the ones who voted for me and my family, who allow me to blossom as a person.
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“Always have dreams, I wanted to play in a big club, win titles, the Ballon d’Or is all I could dream as a child, it’s an honor to win it tonight,” he said.
Ronaldo and Messi, however, didn’t show up for the FIFA awards in September, and also skipped Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris.
Ada Hegerberg, a 23-year-old striker who plays for Olympique Lyon, was announced as the winner of the first women’s Ballon d’Or.
