Luka Modric won a Champions League title and led Croatia to the World Cup final in 2018. Rodrigo Jimenez/EPA, via Shutterstock
Luka Modric, the diminutive midfield maestro who won the Champions League title with Real Madrid and then helped lead Croatia to the World Cup final, was honored Monday with the Ballon d’Or as world player of the year.
Modric’s victory ended a 10-year run in which Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi traded possession of the award, considered one of world soccer’s top individual honors. Ronaldo was second this year, his record sixth runner-up finish (to go with five wins).