Luka Modric has revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo congratulated him on winning the UEFA Player of the Year award. The Croatia international won the prize ahead of his former Real Madrid teammate and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah last week.
Ronaldo refused to attend the presentation at the Champions League group-stage draw in Monaco after learning that he had not won the award. Ronaldo’s sister also aimed a dig at Modric on Instagram by appearing to question the Croatian’s contribution to Real Madrid’s Champions League success last season.
But Modric has revealed that Ronaldo was humble in defeat. ‘Cristiano sent me a message, congratulated me and told me he is happy for me and I deserved it,’ Modric told RTP3 after the game.
He also said he can’t wait to meet me again. ‘I am happy to be in another big award final, we’ll see what will happen. ‘I have a good relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo and we’ll have good relationship in the future too. ‘Individual awards are important but I am not obsessed with them.’
Luka Modric was an instrumental figure as Real Madrid won the UEFA Champions League for a third consecutive season last season although Ronaldo won the headlines for his goalscoring exploits in the Spanish capital. Modric would then lead Croatia to the World Cup final where they lost 4-1 to a Mbappe inspired France.