{"id":299402,"date":"2023-12-03T09:24:58","date_gmt":"2023-12-03T09:24:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allmysportsnews.com\/?p=299402"},"modified":"2023-12-03T09:24:58","modified_gmt":"2023-12-03T09:24:58","slug":"on-this-day-in-2018-luka-modric-wins-ballon-dor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allmysportsnews.com\/soccer\/on-this-day-in-2018-luka-modric-wins-ballon-dor\/","title":{"rendered":"On This Day in 2018: Luka Modric wins Ballon d\u2019Or"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Luka Modric won the Ballon d\u2019Or on this day in 2018, marking the first time since 2007 the award did not go to either Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.<\/p>\n
The Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder broke the stranglehold placed on France Football\u2019s prestigious award by Messi and Ronaldo in the previous decade at a ceremony in Paris.<\/p>\n
Argentina forward Messi and former Real team-mate Ronaldo and had each won the Ballon d\u2019Or on five occasions since Brazilian Kaka did so in 2007.<\/p>\n
In his acceptance speech, Modric said: \u201cIt\u2019s a unique feeling. I am happy, proud and honoured. I have sensational emotions at the moment that are really hard to describe in words.<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst of all, I would like to thank my team-mates and coaches at Real Madrid and all the people who work for Real Madrid, all my coaches and team-mates with the national team, all those who voted for me and of course, my family, my wife and kids.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are fulfilling me as a person and helping me in all aspects to be successful as a professional.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a kid, we all have dreams. My dream was to play for a big club, to win important trophies. I dreamed about it, but the Ballon d\u2019Or was more than a childhood dream for me and it\u2019s a real honour and a privilege to hold this trophy.\u201d<\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/Bq8jPSfHY9f<\/p>\n
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Modric\u2019s recognition was reward for a fine 12 months during which he helped his club lift the Champions League for the third successive season\u00a0before playing a key role in Croatia\u2019s surge to the 2018 World Cup final.<\/p>\n
He won the Golden Ball for his contribution in Russia and was named the Best FIFA Footballer of the Year, and was the first Croatian to claim the Ballon d\u2019Or.<\/p>\n
Modric, now 38, is still playing for Real Madrid and helped his country to the World Cup semi-finals last year in Qatar.<\/p>\n