Luka Modric wins 2018 Ballon d’Or

After picking up the Ballon d’Or trophy at the award ceremony held in Paris, Luka Modric looked back on the past year. He led Real Madrid to win the UEFA Champions League (UCL) by beating Liverpool 3-1 in May. As the captain of Croatia national football team, he also guided his team to the World Cup final at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia. Modric has realized all the wishes he had in 2018.

Modric was named UEFA Men’s Player of the Year in August and the FIFA Men’s Player of the Year in September. In his speech at the award ceremony, Modric said that Messi and Ronaldo are amazing players and the fact that he was voted as the winner of the Ballon d’Or over them means he was special on the ground this year. He added that it is an honor and privilege to win the award that he cannot describe his feeling in one word.

The Ballon d’Or award, which is presented by France Football, is judged by a panel of journalists around the world for one month from October 9. The award, which was called “FIFA Ballon d’Or” between 2010 and 2015, is considered the most prestigious award in the world of football. Modric has won the Ballon d’Or award for the first time, ending Messi and Ronaldo’s dominance for the past 10 years.

“Throughout my career I realized hard work, persistence and belief in yourself in difficult moments are the foundations of success,” said Modric in his speech.


Jae-Hyeng Kim monami@donga.com