The age of Ronaldo/Messi is over, the time of Modric has come
Luka Modric won the Ballon d’Or on Monday night.
He is the first person to win the award that is not called Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi since 2007.
🏆⚽ BALLON D'OR 2018
🇭🇷 @lukamodric10 pic.twitter.com/aEvfNWXwJl— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) December 3, 2018
Cristiano Ronaldo came second, followed by Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappé.
This year Modric won the Champions League for the third time in a row but it was his keystone performances for the Croatian national team, dragging them into the final, that were crucial to securing the win.
Modric said: “It’s an unbelievable feeling, and a big pleasure to be here among all these players.
“I am still trying to realise that I have become part of a group of exceptional players. To win means I did something really special on the pitch this year, that’s why 2018 was the year for me.”
Kaka was the last player to win the award before the Ronaldo/Messi paradigm began.
