Luka Modric wins the World Cup Golden Ball as best player at tournament

Posted by Sebrina Pilcher on Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Luka Modric has won the 2018 World Cup Golden Ball award and been declared the best player of the entire tournament.

Eden Hazard won the silver ball (second best) and Antoine Griezmann took the bronze ball (third best).

Modric played a key role as Croatia's star player, dragging his country to the first World Cup final in their history, however was not overjoyed to receive the award having just lost to France.

He scored twice in the tournament, as well as netting in two penalty shoot-outs.

The award is given to the player deemed to have performed the best out of all 736 at the World Cup.

A shortlist was drawn up by FIFA’s ‘technical committee’ and the winner decided by a vote of media representatives.

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FIFA have always named a ‘Best Player’ at each tournament, however the ‘Golden Ball’ itself only came into existence in 1982.

The most recent previous winners have been Lionel Messi (2014), Diego Forlan (2010) and Zinedine Zidane (2006).

Modric joins Thibaut Courtois, who won the Golden Glove, and Harry Kane, who finished top scorer and claimed the Golden Boot, as the three main award winners for the 2018 World Cup.

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