Ballon d'or 2018 december 3 news
A blast from the past!
On December 3, 2018, the 2018 Ballon d'Or award was presented to Luka Modrić, the Croatian midfielder, at a ceremony in Paris, France. Here are some key news articles and quotes from that day:
Headlines:
- "Luka Modrić wins Ballon d'Or 2018, ending Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's dominance" (The Guardian)
- "Modrić wins Ballon d'Or, ending Ronaldo-Messi duopoly" (BBC Sport)
- "Luka Modrić crowned Ballon d'Or winner, ending 10-year reign of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi" (ESPN)
Quotes:
- Luka Modrić: "I'm speechless. This is an incredible honor. I want to thank my family, my friends, my teammates, and my coaches. This is a dream come true."
- Cristiano Ronaldo: "I'm happy for Luka. He's a great player and a great person. I'm proud of him."
- Lionel Messi: "I'm happy for Luka. He's a great player and a great person. I'm proud of him."
Background:
- Luka Modrić won the award after a remarkable year with Real Madrid, where he won the Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup.
- He also had a successful year with Croatia, leading the team to the World Cup final, where they finished as runners-up.
- Modrić became the first player not named Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi to win the Ballon d'Or since Kaka in 2007.
Reactions:
- The football world was surprised by Modrić's win, with many pundits and fans expecting Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi to win the award.
- Modrić's win was seen as a recognition of his outstanding individual performances and his role in Croatia's World Cup run.
- The award was seen as a boost to Modrić's career, with many predicting that he would continue to be a top player for years to come.