Modric on Messi and Ronaldo: The Croatian midfielder has finally spoken about Messi and Ronaldo in a fiery interview.
Luka Modric won the Ballon d’Or earlier this month, beating Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to the award.
While Ronaldo stood second in the final list, Lionel Messi finished outside the top-3 for the first time. Messi was 5th in the ranking, behind the French duo of Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe.
Luka Modric also won the FIFA Best award and UEFA Player of the Year trophy earlier this year. The Croatian midfielder played a crucial role in Real Madrid’s Champions League campaign, and also led his national side to its first ever World Cup final in Russia this summer.
However, many raised concerns over Modric’s win over the likes of Ronaldo and Messi, both of whom had an impressive individual record in the last season. The Croatian has finally spoken about the debate.
Modric on Messi and Ronaldo:
In an in-depth interview to Croatian outlet Sportske Novoski, Luka Modric attacked Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for skipping the Ballon d’Or ceremony, stating that the players only ‘value’ the trophy when they win.
“It turns out these choices and trophies only have value when they get them,” Modric said.
“It is not fair to their playing colleagues, or to the voters who have nominated them for the past 10 years – nor for football or supporters.”
However, Modric insisted that it’s their personal choice. “But I repeat, everyone behaves the way they think they need to.”
Luka Modric is the first person not named Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to have won the Ballon d’Or, since Ricardo Kaka in 2007.
Talking on whether he deserved the award, Modric stated that the awards are for seasonal performances, and that the voters can’t be wrong if they selected him for every award.
“Messi and Ronaldo are two football phenoms that have been dominating the game for the last decade. They are a cut above the rest, skill-wise. But this is a seasonal award.
“Most of the players, managers, football legends, journalists, fans, voted for the same winner ( in major award shows this year ). I guess they are all wrong? If we are giving out awards based on skill only, then just cancel the voting and give them all to Messi and Ronaldo.”
