'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
History has been made - a new Ballon d'Or winner has emerged. Real Madrid superstar Luka Modric has finally conquered the football world, beating both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to claim the coveted prize and becoming the first player to do so in 10 years.
It has been a very successful year for Luka Modric - actually the best one he has had in his career so far. The Croatian International had initially claimed both the UEFA and FIFA Player Of The Year awards recently, but the Ballon d'Or award proved to be quite tougher as he had to battle it out against a number of France's World Cup-winning stars including Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe, and Raphael Varane, not to mention the stiff competition he faced from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as well as other superstars.
Despite the intensity of the competition, Modric was able to stand till the end, with his performances and achievements during the year coupled with other factors helping him to be named the finest footballer on the planet this term. Below, we take a look at four things that aided his Ballon d'Or triumph.
#4 UEFA Champions League triumph
There are many things that helped Luka Modric on his way to claiming the Ballon d'Or award this year, winning the UEFA Champions League is actually one of them.
Modric was an unbeatable force in the middle of the pitch during the coveted tournament last season, linking up play between the defense and attack, controlling the tempo of games, helping to absorb pressure, distributing decent passes as well as improving the overall performance of his team.
The Croatian International finished as one of the most impressive performers in the European tournament, stepping up at the vital moments to produce scintillating performances and guiding Real Madrid to claim their record third consecutive UEFA Champions League trophy during the campaign.
#3 The FIFA World Cup
Although Luka Modric had already boosted his chances of winning the Ballon d'Or award with his success in the UEFA Champions League last season, it is actually his exploits in the recently concluded FIFA World Cup tournament which was held in Russia that really justifies his status as the best player in the world.
Shouldering an enormous responsibility of captaining an underdog nation on the grandest stage of all, the Croatian International made his impact felt with his eye-catching performances in the tournament - stepping up at the vital moments to guide his team through a number difficult encounters.
The Real Madrid superstar was undoubtedly the most impressive performer in Russia, bagging two vital goals and 1 assist to join with his role of controlling games from the middle of the pitch as well as running riot on his way to leading his nation to the final of the World Cup for the first time in their history.
#2 Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo both failed in Russia
Another factor that helped Luka Modric in his Ballon d'Or triumph this year is the fact that both Barcelona maestro Lionel Messi and his Juventus counterpart Cristiano Ronaldo failed to inspire their respective nations to an impressive height during the FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Before this edition, the duo shared the last 10 Ballon d'Or awards between each other (5 apiece) and they both entered the year as the heavy favorites to go home with the coveted accolade once again.
Having achieved remarkable success with their respective clubs last term, it initially looked like the duo would continue with their dominance on top of the football world. But they both failed to inscribe their signature on the tournament and afforded other superstars the chance to steal the highlights - an opportunity Luka Modric grabbed with both hands.
#1 People wanted a change
Luka Modric has been crowned the Ballon d'Or winner for 2018 but the debate of whether he truly deserves to beat Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to the accolade will surely go on for some time.
Although the Croatian had a fantastic year, performing well in both the UEFA Champions League and the FIFA World Cup, the aforementioned superstars also had great performances and achievements during the year that could have won them the Ballon d'Or.
Lionel Messi finished as the top scorer in both the La Liga and across Europe's top 5 leagues last season and he also helped Barcelona to claim a fantastic domestic double while Cristiano Ronaldo was the standout player in the UEFA Champions League, leading Real Madrid to claim their third consecutive European triumph and finishing as the top scorer of the tournament for the sixth consecutive season - not to mention that both superstars scored over 40 goals each for their respective clubs during the term.
With great respect, Luka Modric actually deserves to win the Ballon d'Or award for his incredible performances and achievements this year. But if you remember what happened with the likes of Xavi and Iniesta in 2010, Frank Ribery in 2013 as well as Manuel Neuer in 2014, you will realize that the fact that people wanted a new hand to lift the Ballon d'Or award also played a part in Luka Modric's success this year.
