Luka Modric brought the curtains down on Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's decade-long domination of best footballer awards on Monday, 24 September, when he was crowned FIFA's Best Men’s Player of the year in London.
The Real Madrid and Croatian star excelled for both his club and his country, as Madrid won a third consecutive Champions League and Croatia reached the World Cup final for the first time in 2018.
Modric edged out Liverpool's Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah and Ronaldo, who along with Messi gave the awards ceremony a miss.
Modric arrived at Real Madrid in the summer of 2012 from Tottenham Hotspur and since then his career has only surged vertically.
Here’s a look at the high points in his career from the time he arrived at Santiago Bernebeu till the time he received the football's biggest individual award.
From Tottenham to Real Madrid
After good four seasons with Tottenham Hotspur, the Croatian midfielder decided to move to the Spanish capital in 2012. Real Madrid had agreed on a deal with Tottenham for an approximate £30 million transfer fee for a period of five years. Since then it has always been the way forward for the midfielder. In his five seasons at the club, Modric has been part of four successful European campaigns and one successful La Liga campaign. Apart from these, he has also won the FIFA Club World Cup thrice. He has been named the UEFA Midfielder of the Season twice in 2016-17 and 2017-18. After the departure of Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira, Modric has not only been the live wire but also an important cog in the Madrid midfield.
Four Champions League Titles in Five Years
Very few players can boast of winning four Champions League titles in five seasons. Luka Modric has played a vital role in all of the four Champions League triumphs of Real Madrid. By the time Madrid got their third tile, Modric had already become as important as Ronaldo in the mid-field. With his effective defensive ability, Modric is regarded as one of the most well-rounded midfielders in the game today. Many football experts have even started comparing him to the Barcelona duo of Xavi and Andrés Iniesta, and rightly so.
UEFA Men's Player of the Year 2018
Modric may not be a prolific scorer nor an outright defender, yet there is no way we can undermine his dynamism and quality. The role Modric played in assisting Madrid to their third straight UEFA Champions League title and in Croatia’s maiden appearance in the World Cup final was rewarded immediately by the UEFA when they adjudged him the best player in the continent. With the win Modric joined the likes of Ronaldo (2014, 2016 and 2017), Messi (2011 and 2015), Andres Iniesta (2012) and Franck Ribery (2013). This year, he defeated his former Real Madrid teammate Ronaldo by 90 points to clinch the title.
Golden Ball Winner and World Cup Finalist
If Modric was going through the best phase in his club career, the World Cup in Russia took his career to an extraordinary level. The 33-year-old, who was captaining the Croatian side, led from the front. Croatia reached the final of a football World Cup for the first time under him. His side played some beautiful and determined football, only to falter in the final against France. Modric scored two goals in the competition and was part of one assist. His goal against Argentina in the quarter-final – a long-range shot from 25 yards – was easily one of the best in the competition. Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Mario Mandzukic were referred to as Croatia's second "Golden Generation". Modric, who was not allowed the final hurray, courtesy the French team, was rightly adjudged the best player of the tournament and was awarded the Golden Ball.
FIFA Footballer of The Year 2018
Modric’s Champions League triumph and a fruitful trip to Russia culminated into an apt end on Monday when he was declared FIFA Best Men’s Player of the year in an event in London. Modric went past five-time winner Ronaldo and Egypt’s Mo Salah with 29 percent votes. Even Messi, who for the first time in 12 years failed to make it to the Top 3 of the awards, voted for him. In this decade he is the first player apart from Messi and Ronaldo to lay hands on the award. He is also the first Croatian to be bestowed with the award.
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