Luka Modric Wins Golden Ball at 2018 World Cup
Luka Modric was awarded the Golden Ball as the World Cup's best player after France beat Croatia 4-2 in the World Cup final.
Modric, 32, scored two goals and had one assist in Russia. Croatia's captain also led the tournament in minutes played and miles ran. At the club level, Modric has won four Champions League titles with Real Madrid.
Modric helped lead Croatia to their first appearance in the World Cup final this year. He was on the 2006 and 2014 squads that were eliminated in the group stage. Croatia did not qualify for the World Cup in 2010.
Eden Hazard of Belgium finished second for the award and France's Antoine Griezmann came in third. Modric, meanwhile, continued the recent trend of players from non-World-Cup-winning sides winning the top individual honors.
Here's a complete list of the past Golden Ball and best player winners:
1930 - José Nasazzi, Uruguay
1934 - Giuseppe Meazza, Italy
1938 - Leônidas, Brazil
1942 - Zizinho, Brazil
1954 - Ferenc Puskás, Hungary
1958 - Didi, Brazil
1962 - Garrincha, Brazil
1966 - Bobby Charlton, England
1970 - Pelé, Brazil
1974 - Johan Cruyff, Netherlands
1978 - Mario Kempes, Argentina
1982 - Paolo Rossi, Italy
1986 - Diego Maradona, Argentina
1990 - Salvatore Schillaci, Italy
1994 - Romário, Brazil
1998 - Ronaldo, Brazil
2002 - Oliver Kahn, Germany
2006 - Zinedine Zidane, France
2010 - Diego Forlán, Uruguay
2014 - Lionel Messi, Argentina
2018 - Luka Modric, Croatia
