'I'm glad that someone normal can win the Ballon d'Or'

Croatia and Real Madrid were left thrilled with the result of the Ballon d'Or award. Modric, who had a sensational 2018, got his reward and accepted the prize that announces him as the best in the world. 

After lifting the gong high in the air in Paris, the Croatian gave an interview to the patron of the award, 'France Football'. In spite of all his success, the Zadar native remained composed.

"I consider myself to be normal, and I behave as such, and I see that people view me in this way, as someone humble, and I'm going to say something, I'm glad that someone normal can win the Ballon d'Or," he said.

On the other hand, Modric was keen to highlight the hard work that has been put towards winning the Ballon d'Or: "There is a saying that goes 'the best things never come easily', and that is my motto. My life is based on struggle and a lot of work to achieve my goals, it was not easy, but I won."

On whether he lost votes after falling to defeat in the World Cup final, he said: "No, I leave that for others to decide. I do not think that one game can decide the fate of the Ballon d'Or. I will not deny that after the final I was too sad to think about the Ballon d'Or, but that sadness became joy when we returned to Croatia."

Modric ended the hegemony of Messi and Ronaldo, which until now, is unheard of. 

Modric retorted: "In history it will be left to a Croatian player, representative of a small country, to win the Ballon d'Or after Cristiano and Messi, who are great players at a completely different level. Nobody has the right to be compared to them, they are the best in the history of this sport. To follow them is amazing. I do not believe for a second that this is over for them."

In spite of no longer working with him, the Croatian fondly recalled a premonition made by former coach Zinedine Zidane. 

"There is one thing I will never forget. When Zidane arrived to be the coach of Madrid in January 2016, he called me to his office one day, after training. He told me that he saw me as a good player, and he also expected a lot from me. He told me that I was an important footballer. And above all, he told me that he saw me as a footballer who, tomorrow, could win the Ballon d'Or," he explained.

In the same vein, the Madrid midfielder continued his train of thought: "When someone like Zidane, with his character and history, tells you this, it really encourages you. I admired and respected him enormously as a player. I thought that I always came across as a little timid, a bit shy.  He expected me to express myself on the field, it opened my eyes."

"He needed me to be a key player in the team, at a time where we played really good football. Those words from Zidane helped me to go further in my game, even if, at the time, I did not dare to believe them," he concluded.