Luka Modric saw off competition from a host of French World Cup stars and Cristiano Ronaldo as the Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder won the 2018 Ballon d'Or on Monday, ending the 10-year stranglehold on the award by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
The 33-year-old was announced as the winner of the prestigious prize in a glitzy ceremony held in Paris. Ronaldo was second, with France and Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann completing the podium.
Modric -- the oldest winner since Italy's Fabio Cannavaro, also 33, in 2006 -- was crowned after an outstanding year in which he starred in the Real side that retained the Champions League before leading his country to the final of the World Cup for the first time in their history.
The prize comes after Modric claimed the Golden Ball for the best player at the World Cup before picking up UEFA's prize for player of the season and FIFA's best player award in September.
Here’s a look at how Twitter reacted to Luka Modric’s maiden Ballon d'Or win:
As expected Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi fans were not a happy lot. And Twitter was also divided whether the Croatian footballer deserved the laurels at the FIFA Awards, earlier this year and the Ballon d’Or.
The biggest argument against Modric’s win was that he has won the Ballon D’Or with just 4 goals, 9 assists in all competitions ahead of Ronaldo with 48 goals, 8 assists. Both have won the same number of trophies last season.
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