Wayne Rooney has revealed that he would have voted for Cristiano Ronaldo for the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner ahead of Luka Modrić.
The 33-year-old Croatian midfielder beat his former Real Madrid teammate for France Football’s coveted prize back in December.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Rooney spent five years together at Manchester United between 2003 and 2009.
And, during that time, they helped the Red Devils become England’s most dominant force.
While Rooney is currently gearing up for the start of the new MLS season, though, Ronaldo is blitzing goals galore for Juventus over in Italy.
The 34-year-old missed out on the Ballon d’Or award to Modric back in December, much to the player’s disappointment.
“Luka Modric is a fantastic player,” Rooney told DAZN. “I think his passing is great and the way he moves with the ball.
“Actually he doesn’t look that quick to the eye but when you play against him he glides past players. He’s a fantastic player, he’s had a great career.
“I don’t think he’s the best player in the world but in terms of the year is he worthy of it? Of course, he is. He had a great year with Real Madrid and obviously had a great run as captain with Croatia.
“I think if it was player-voted I would have voted for Ronaldo this year, but taking nothing away from Luka Modric. He won it so he deserves it.”
Rooney came up against Modric during the midfielder’s time at Tottenham, but the former United striker says the Croatia star did not carry a similar aura to some of his peers.
“He wasn’t a midfield player who before the game you would think: ‘oh no, we’re playing against Luka Modric’,” Rooney added.
“He’s not like a Patrick Vieira-style player or Roy Keane where he’s commanding, he’s a different kind of player.
“But his ability, his passing, he can shoot with both feet. As I said before, he takes the ball and glides, creates opportunities, so he’s a fantastic player.”
Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Greizmann came third in last year’s voting, while Paris Saint Germain starlet Kylian Mbappe finished in fourth place.
Messi’s final position caused the most controversy on the night, as he was named the fifth best player in Europe, finishing outside the top three for the first time in 11 years.
Do you trust the voting process? Who will win the 2019 Ballon d’Or?
Let us know in the comments.