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For the first time in about a decade, a superstar not named Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo has finally climbed on top of the football world, with Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric stepping up to overtake the Argentine and Portuguese icons as well putting an end to their duopoly at the top of the sport.
After playing influential roles as Real Madrid cruised to their record third consecutive UEFA Champions League triumph last season as well firing his nation into the final of the recently concluded FIFA World Cup tournament in Russia, the Croatian was named the Player Of The Year in both the UEFA and FIFA Awards and he has also emerged as the front-runner to claim the Ballon d'Or accolade this year.
However, while Modric is undoubtedly a favourite for the prestigious award this term, it would be a big mistake to write-off other players who have also had a fantastic year at both club and international levels in the race for the honour.
Therefore, we take a look at 5 incredible superstars that could hinder the Croatian from making it a hat-trick with the Ballon d'Or accolade this term:
#5 Mohamed Salah
Liverpool maestro Mohamed Salah is among the few superstars that could hinder Luka Modric from winning the coveted Ballon d'Or accolade this term - courtesy of his scintillating performances and impressive accomplishments with the Premier League giants during the year.
The attacker was one of the top performers on the planet during the previous campaign, bagging an unbelievable 32 goals and 11 assists for Liverpool in 36 Premier League appearances as well as firing The Reds into the final of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in over a decade - recording a fantastic 10 goals and 5 assists to his name in the process.
Apart from breaking plenty of Premier League records during the term, Salah was honoured with both the FWA and PFA Player Of The Year awards for his blistering performances in the English top flight. He was also named a finalist alongside Luka Modric during both the UEFA and FIFA Awards recently and he could finally get the better of the Croatian during the Ballon d'Or gala in December.
#4 Antoine Griezmann
There were many superstars who seized the year 2018 as a decent opportunity to push their respective careers to extraordinary levels with both club and country, and Atletico Madrid hitman, Antoine Griezmann is without doubts, one of them.
The Frenchman was highly influential at the Wanda Metropolitano last season, bagging an amazing 29 goals and 15 assists in 49 matches across all competitions to help the Rojiblancos to claim the Europa League title before coming back to lead his nation to FIFA World Cup glory in Russia - bagging 4 impressive goals and 2 assists in the process.
Having run riot during the year and achieving glory both at the club and International levels, Griezmann has emerged as a fierce contender for the Ballon d'Or award and he also has a great chance of stopping Luka Modric from making it a hat-trick with the accolade.
#3 Kylian Mbappe
With many people now raising suggestions that the Ballon d'Or accolade should go to a Frenchman, it could end up being Paris Saint Germain wonderkid, Kylian Mbappe that will deny Luka Modric from completing a treble with the prestigious award this year.
A highly talented youngster with plenty of technical abilities and incredible finishing skills, Mbappe was one of the top performers in the football world last season, producing a lot of blistering performances and bagging an impressive 21 goals and 15 assists for his club across all competitions to help deliver a domestic treble at the Parc Des Princes during the term.
The 19-year-old was also a huge influence for his nation during the recently concluded FIFA World Cup tournament in Russia and his 4 brilliant goals were pivotal for France as they ran riot on their way to claiming the prestigious trophy for the second time in their history.
#2 Lionel Messi
Despite missing out on the final shortlist during both the UEFA and FIFA Best Awards recently, there is no doubt Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi still ranks among the few superstars that could hinder Luka Modric from adding the Ballon d'Or award to his cabinet this year.
The Argentine was arguably the top performer in Europe during the previous campaign, bagging an amazing 44 goals and 18 assists for Barcelona across all competitions and claiming both the Pichichi trophy and the European Golden Shoe - having outscored every attacker on the continent during the course of the term.
Messi was a huge influence throughout the season, consistently producing scintillating performances and dragging the Catalans to claim both the La Liga title and the Copa Del Rey trophy to summarise another successful domestic campaign at the Nou Camp.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo
Following a brilliant European outing with Real Madrid during the previous campaign, Portuguese superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo has also emerged as one of the fierce contenders for the Ballon d'Or award this year - one that actually has a huge chance to beat Luka Modric to the accolade.
The attacker was without doubts, the most impressive superstar in the UEFA Champions League last term, running riot on his way to leading Los Blancos to a record third consecutive European triumph and finishing as the top scorer of the competition with an incredible 15 goals and 3 assists to his name in just 13 appearances.
Ronaldo was also one of the top performers in the FIFA World Cup that was held in Russia recently, bagging an amazing 4 goals to his name in 4 appearances as well as producing a classical performance in Portugal's opening fixture against Spain to remind the world of his incredible talent.
