“2018 is a dream year for me”. “Throughout my career I realized hard work, persistence and belief in yourself in difficult moments are the foundations of success.” Those were some of the words of an emotional Luka Modric, the first ever Croatian to win the prestigious Ballon d’Or award.
Luka Modric who was crowned the winner of the Ballon d’Or last night, capping a wonderful 2018 for the Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder while giving his acceptance speech also said, “As a kid we all have dreams. My dream was to play for a big club and win important trophies”.
“The Ballon d’Or was more than just a dream for me and it is really an honor and a privilege to hold this trophy.”
The Ballon d’Or has been dominated by Portuguese talisman Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentine superstar Lionel Messi for the past decade, the rivals winning the award five times apiece.
But Modric’s impact in Croatia’s run to the World Cup final, coupled with Madrid winning the Champions League for the third year in a row, saw him triumph.
Modric, 33 – also crowned FIFA’s Best Men’s Player this year – pipped World Cup winners including Raphael Varane, Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann to the award.
Griezmann made it into the top three but he was beaten to second place by Ronaldo, who moved to Serie A champions Juventus from Madrid in July.
Messi finished fifth in the voting, with Griezmann’s France team-mate Mbappe a place above the Barcelona star.
It’s the first time since 2006 that the world of football has seen Lionel Messi finish outside the podium at the Ballon d’Or.
There was no place for Neymar in the top 10, with Paul Pogba and Madrid captain Sergio Ramos among the other big names further down the list.
Kaka was the last player other than Messi or Ronaldo to win the Ballon d’Or, the Brazilian claiming the title in 2007 while starring for AC Milan.
Other winners at ceremony which took place at the regal Grand Palais in Paris include, PSG’s youngster Kylian Mbappe and Olympique Lyonnais’ Ada Hegerberg.
The 19-year-old Mbappe — the youngest player to score in a World Cup final — won the Raymond Kopa Trophy awarded to the best young player. While, 23 year old Hegerberg won the inaugural Women’s Ballon d’Or award.
France Football magazine has been awarding the Ballon d’Or since 1956, and created a women’s award for the first time this year.
Hegerberg is a three-time Women’s Champions League winner with French side Lyon and scored a tournament-record 15 times last season.
“I want to say thanks to France Football. It’s a huge step for women’s football,” Hegerberg said. “I want to end this speech with a message to all young girls in the world. Believe in yourselves.”
Ballon d’Or final placings in full:
1 Luka Modric (Croatia, Real Madrid), 753 points
2 Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid and Juventus), 478 points
3 Antoine Griezmann (France, Atletico Madrid), 414 points
4 Kylian Mbappé (France, PSG), 347 points
5 Lionel Messi (Argentina, FC Barcelona), 280 points
6 Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool), 188 points
7 Raphael Varane (France, Real Madrid), 121 points
8 Eden Hazard (Belgium, Chelsea), 119 points
9 Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium, Manchester City), 29 points
10 Harry Keane (England, Tottenham), 25 points
11 N’Golo Kanté (France, Chelsea), 24 points
12 Neymar (Brazil, PSG), 19 points
13 Luis Suárez (Uruguay, FC Barcelona), 17 points
14 Thibaut Courtois (Belgium, Chelsea and Real Madrid), 12 points
15 Paul Pogba (France, Manchester United), 9 points
16 Sergio Agüero (Argentina, Manchester City), 7 points
17 Gareth Bale (Wales, Real Madrid), 6 points
17 Karim Benzema (France, Real Madrid), 6 points
19 Roberto Firmino (Brazil, Liverpool), 4 points
19 Ivan Rakitic (Croatia, FC Barcelona), 4 points
19º Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid), 4 points
22 Edinson Cavani (Uruguay, PSG), 3 points
22 Sadio Mané (Senegal, Liverpool), 3 points
22 Marcelo (Brazil, Real Madrid), 3 points
25 Alisson (Brazil, AS Roma and Liverpool), 2 points
25 Mario Mandzukic (Croacia, Juventus), 2 points
25 Jan Oblak (Slovenia, Atlético Madrid), 2 points
28 Diego Godín (Uruguay, Atlético Madrid), 1 point
29 Isco (Spain, Real Madrid), 0 points
29 Hugo Lloris (France, Tottenham), 0 points
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