The Ballon d’Or winner has amazingly this year been leaked a week before the official award is handed out on December 3rd in Paris. It appears the duopoly of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has finally been broken as the Juventus star could only finish second this year, whilst Messi could not crack the top three this year.
Behind Ronaldo in third place was French World Cup winner and Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann but the winner of the 2018 Ballon d’Or according to this leak is Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder Luka Modric.
Modric had a sparkling year, inspiring Real Madrid to a third consecutive Champions League trophy whilst also leading Croatia to a surprising World Cup final as the heartbeat of a talented side. Alongside Ivan Rakitic the pair controlled games and steered their side through some testing games to within 90 minutes of the ultimate glory.
Modric becomes the first person to win the prestigious individual award aside from Messi and Ronaldo since Kaka scooped the gong back in 2007.
Since then the Argentinan has won five awards, as has the Portuguese, putting them level at the very top of the world’s favourite sport.
Although Messi won La Liga without personally losing a game last season scoring 34 goals in 36 games in the process as well as winning the Spanish Cup, it was not enough to get him in the top three. Ronaldo did make the top three thanks to his Champions League success but his league showing and his failure to go deep into the World Cup stopped him winning this award.
So congratulations to Luka Modric who breaks up this dominant duopoly.