Luka Modric beat competition from nearest rivals Cristiano Ronaldo and Antoine Griezmann to win the 2018 Ballon d’Or on Monday, capping a year in which he won a fourth Champions League title and the Golden Ball as the World Cup’s best player.
Modric helped Real Madrid to their third consecutive European Cup before leading his native Croatia to a first-ever World Cup final.
It’s the first time in a decade that a player other than Lionel Messi or Ronaldo claimed the individual honor. Kaka won that award in 2007 as the standout player in AC Milan‘s Champions League-winning campaign.
🏆⚽ BALLON D’OR 2018
🇭🇷 @lukamodric10 pic.twitter.com/aEvfNWXwJl— Real Madrid C.F.⚽ (@realmadrid) December 3, 2018
Modric earned universal praise and a fair share of Man of the Match awards for his efforts in midfield last season. His passes fed Madrid’s insatiable front line, and his driving runs fueled Croatia’s remarkable journey in Russia. Known as a silky playmaker, the 32-year-old added some graft to his game, harrying opponents in relentless pursuit of the ball while covering tens of thousands of kilometers.
“As a kid, we …read more