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Luka Modrić

Central midfielder, AC Milan & Croatia

Sports Croatia Hall No. 36

Profile

Why they shine

Luka Modrić broke a ten-year duopoly in December 2018 by winning the Ballon d'Or with 753 points, 275 clear of Cristiano Ronaldo, having taken Croatia to the World Cup final and been named the tournament's best player. He opened the scoring in Moscow and finished as the leading passer in a final his country lost 4-2. His Real Madrid years delivered two European Cups, Lisbon in 2014 and Saint-Denis in 2022, and the 2018 trophy remains the only Ballon d'Or ever won by a Croatian. He moved to AC Milan in 2025 and turned 40 that September.

Full name: Luka Modrić
Nationality: Croatia
Club (2026): AC Milan
Position: Central midfielder
Ballon d'Or: 2018 — 753 points, the widest winning margin
World Cup 2018: Golden Ball — Croatia's first final

Record

Honor record

Ballon d'Or

2018 · Dec 3, 2018

Grand Palais, Paris

The first Croatian winner, and the first to interrupt the Messi-Ronaldo run since Kaká in 2007. Modrić took 753 points, 275 clear of Ronaldo, with the ceremony returning to Paris at the Grand Palais after six editions in Zurich. Croatia's runners-up finish and his Golden Ball at the World Cup did the rest.

UEFA Champions League

2014 · May 24, 2014

Estádio da Luz, Lisbon

La Décima, won 4-1 against Atlético Madrid in extra time in Lisbon, with Mandžukić's 93rd-minute goal forcing the extra period and Ramos and Bale completing the scoring. Modrić ran the midfield that Real Madrid needed to win its tenth European Cup in nine years.

UEFA Champions League

2022 · May 28, 2022

Stade de France, Saint-Denis

The 14th European Cup for Real Madrid, won 1-0 against Liverpool with a 59th-minute header from Vinícius Júnior, and the second of Modrić's titles in Madrid, eight years after Lisbon. He left the club for AC Milan in the summer of 2025, at 40.

FIFA World Cup

2018 · Jul 15, 2018

Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow

Croatia's first World Cup final, lost 4-2 to France on a rain-soaked Moscow evening. Modrić opened the scoring and set up Mario Mandžukić's second, and Croatia's run included a 3-0 win over Argentina in the semi-final and a shoot-out against Brazil in the quarter-final, where Modrić converted Croatia's second penalty.

FIFA World Cup Golden Ball

2018 · Jul 15, 2018

Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow

The tournament's best player, voted by the accredited media and confirmed by FIFA's technical study group. Modrić played all seven matches, scored three goals, against Denmark, Argentina and France, and created the goal that put Croatia 2-1 up in the final. He was the first Croatian to take the award.

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