Croatia captain and Madrid superstar, Luka Modric, 33, signals the end of the decade-old Messi-Ronaldo duopoly, as he clinches the FIFA Best Award.

The former Tottenham star was awarded football highest individual prize in the FIFA Best Award ceremony held in London, recently, having beaten off worthy competition from in and around Europe.
Much was made of the fact that Barcelona’s Lionel Messi didn’t make the final three-man shortlist for the 2018/19 season, but when Real Madrid’s Luka Modric made the long walk to the podium to receive the award as the best footballer in the world, in 2018, many more tongues wagged. The epoch making feat was the first time in over a decade that the award didn’t go to either one of Barcelona whiz kid, Lionel Messi, or the new king of Turin, Cristiano Ronaldo. The last time any other person, asides Ronaldo and Messi, won the FIFA best- formerly Ballon d’or- was as far back as 2007, when the now retired Brazilian, Ricardo Kaka, donned the red and black stripes of AC Milan. And for the first time in twelve years, Barcelona’s mercurial number 10 wasn’t even listed in the final three that included Liverpool’s revelation of the season, Mohammed Salah and Juventus Cristiano Ronaldo.

Official numbers released by FIFA shows Modric garnered 29.05% of the total votes. Ronaldo finished second with 19.08%, while Salah ended in third place with 11.23%. Lionel Messi could only finish in fifth place with 9.81% behind Kylian Mbappe, who finished in fourth place.

Modric’s triumph means Ronaldo and Messi remain tied at five FIFA Awards each. The Portuguese first claimed the award in 2008, and subsequently in 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017. Whilst Messi was voted the best in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2015.

‘It was an unbelievable season, the best season in my life’, Modric said. ‘I am, still not realizing how good a year I had collectively, individually, and I am very proud for everything I achieved this year and it will be remembered forever’, he further enthused, giving a speech on receiving the award.

Many had tried, and many had failed. Nothing short of a stellar season would have managed to end the Messi-Ronaldo stranglehold over football biggest individual prize. And boy did the little magician have the best of seasons.

Before the summer world cup in Russia, this year, the Croatia number 10 had played an integral part in Zidane’s Real Madrid team doing the unthinkable, winning the UEFA Champions League for the third time in a roll. The Santiago Bernabeu faithfuls had managed to stifle the attacking prowess of Mo Salah’s Liverpool in the final, and Luka Modric was instrumental, as he pulled the strings deep from midfield.

Many would argue that Ronaldo got the goals for Madrid, but few would disagree with the fact that it was Modric’s genius throughout the campaign that really did the magic for the los blancos.
Luka is definitely one of the best midfield players in the world. He has great technical abilities, reads the game well and has a strong personality that he has built over the years’, Carlo Ancellotti had said when the Croatian first signed for the los blancos. Carlo Ancellotti is a veteran in the game, and he knows greatness even if it comes in small packages- the small package being Luka Modric.

If anyone had any doubts, the former Tottenham star laid them to rest in the summer world cup in Russia, captaining his side to the final- beating Argentina and in England, and only losing 4-1 to the French team. To spice things all up, he was voted the best player at the tournament, as he walked away with the much coveted golden boot.

At 33, the little pea, as he is fondly called in the Real Madrid dressing room, is only getting better with age. And in winning the FIFA Best for 2018, he has unconsciously stirred a revolution of some sorts. Gone are the days when awards are set asides for either one of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to clinch. Gone are the days when football’s highest individual prize was decided on who had scored the most goals in that season. Ronaldo and Salah both had 44 goals last season, and Messi scored even more, but it was the Madrid midfield gem that was considered for the top prize. This is very much contrary to what was obtainable in the past decade. Usually, he who had scored more goals between the former Madrid attacker and Barcelona’s all time highest goal scorer was always often bestowed with The Best Award.

But not this season. Luka didn’t score too many goals, and neither did he make so many assists too, but his contribution to the triumph of both club and country was clearly visible.

His win has opened the door way for others to come through and know that when they actually put it work, their efforts would be rewarded accordingly. Now, players such as Eden Hazard, Neymar Jnr., Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe have their work cut out for them, as Luka Modric has smoothened the rough path by ending the Ronaldo-Messi duopoly.

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