“I would like to thank my comrades”

It was already clear in advance that the Golden Ball award ceremony in France would be historic. First, everyone understood that for the first time in 10 years neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor Lionel Messi would get the trophy.

Back in September, Luka Modric was recognized as the best footballer in Europe. Croatian footballer also became the best player in 2018 according to FIFA. Then both of his competitors did not arrive at the ceremony, knowing that they would not occupy the first line.

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Event in Paris, Messi and Ronaldo did attend, despite a solid backlog from the leader in the final table of ranks.

The best footballer on the planet, as expected, was the player of the Croatian national team, striker of Real Madrid, Luka Modric. Thus, for the first time since 2007, the main stars of world football - Ronaldo and Messi - did not receive the award.

“I would like to thank my teammates, as well as the coaches of Real Madrid and the Croatian national team. Thanks to everyone who voted for me. I always wanted to play in a great club, but at the same time the Golden Ball was for me a childhood dream. It is difficult for me to convey my feelings now. Not only because I won the Golden Ball, beating Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Among those who participated in the struggle for the award, there are very talented players. It is a great honor for me to be among these outstanding footballers, ”Modric said at the ceremony.

According to the results of the survey, 148 journalists from different countries Modric scored 753 points, overtaking the closest pursuer - Cristiano Ronaldo - by more than 270 points. Juventus striker has 476 points, and he is in second place. Closes the top three of the strongest world champion Antoine Griezmann, who stands for Atletico Madrid. In his piggy bank 414 points.

“I am not disappointed. Very proud to get on the podium and be a world champion. I hope that in the future on the site of Modrica will be someone from my partners in the club or national team. In 2018, I won the Europa League and the World Cup. What else should I have done? I don’t know, ”Goal.com quotes Gryzmann.

Messi this time did not even hit the top three - he has the fifth line (for the first time since 2006, the Argentine was out of the top three) and 280 points. In addition, in the top ten: Kilian Mbappé (France, "PSG"), Mohammed Salah (Egypt, "Liverpool"), Raphael Varan (France, "Real"), Eden Hazard (Belgium, "Chelsea"), Kevin de Bruin ( Belgium, Chelsea) and Harry Kane (England, Tottenham).

Modric became the seventh player of the Spanish “Real”, who received the “Golden Ball”. The Madrid Club took the lead in this indicator, overtaking Barcelona, ​​as well as the Italian Juventus and Milan, each with six football players awarded an honorary award.

The prize for the scorer

In addition to the main prize, several other awards were presented.

In particular, world champion Kilian Mbappa was expected to be recognized as the best young player of the year. He competed with Christian Pulisic (USA, Borussia D), Gianluigi Donnarumme (Italy, Milan), Justin Kluivert (Netherlands, Roma), Patrick Cutrone (Italy, Milan), Trent Alexander Arnold (England , Liverpool), Rodrigo Goesu (Brazil, Santos), Ussemou Aoua (France, Lyon), Amadou Aydara (Mali, Red Bull Salzburg) and Ritsu Doanu (Japan, Groningen). Russian footballers were not represented in the voting.

In his 18 years Mbappa managed to become a world champion. At the same time in the main vote on the "Golden Ball" Frenchman took fourth place.

“This reward only makes me hungrier. My next goal is to lift absolutely all trophies over my head, ”Mbbpe Bleacher Report quotes.

  • Reuters

The first ever women's Golden Ball was won by Norwegian Ade Hegerberg, who scored 53 goals in a year. This indicator is truly outstanding at both the male and female levels.

Not surprisingly, Hegerberg was stronger than the other rivals in particular, the celebrated Brazilian Martha.

Note that the ceremony in Paris was overshadowed by a large-scale protest against rising gasoline prices.