Luka Modric wins the Golden Ball 2018

The Real Madrid monopolizes all the titles of the year and ends with the duopoly of Cristiano and Messi

The Luso, the second most voted in 2018, and the Argentine did not attend the ceremony

That's how we told you the gala live

"Sit down, the ceremony is going to start, free corridors please, clap your hands on the generic, two and a half minutes for images, and in seven we're on the air." It's the first time I'm a helper on a TV show. With Butragueño and Cerezo. Together with Alves and Buffon ... It's 20:53. Enter Modric. The last. So we're all in the Grand Palais. The double staircase frames a giant screen where a golden ball revolves, the Golden Ball of 2018. The real trophy is on a podium at the start of the stairway. One minute. 30 seconds, 10, seven. Tape of applause and roll. We stand up. Those of the west bottom. The VIPs, seated. Play of light. Views of Paris. Music to the fullest A dancer pays homage to Michael Jackson. David Ginola, more loose with the microphone than when he was a forward, takes command. We see a gazillion channels. Thus started the Parisian gala.At 22:14, according to the planned pattern, Luka Modric, 33 years old, 1.72m and 66 kilos, Real Madrid attacking midfielder (therefore winner of the Champions League) and captain of the Croatian national team that was a finalist in the World Cup in Russia, was recognized as the best of this year. The vote was overwhelming: he collected 753 points. 12 months ago, the small player with musketeer's features accompanied, discreetly, Cristiano Ronaldo, who added his fifth trophy and equaled Messi. This time, CR was second (476 points). And it did not come, nor the Argentine. Tin ball to the now Juve.Modric striker ends the era of Cristiano and Messi, who have divided equally the last 10 trophies. Modric prolongs the hegemony of the League, which adds 10 years in a row being the competition where the Golden Ball plays. (The first of Cristiano achieved it with the United jersey) .Modric, above the railing, wore a measured smile, like your passes. He thanked the tournament and remembered his wife and children, happy, down. He also had words for his teammates and for Real Madrid. At that moment, the screen showed Florentino Pérez, who was writing on his mobile.

"A unique feeling" "It's a unique feeling, I'm very happy and proud, it's an honor, I have so many emotions that are very difficult to express in words, but let me thank those who helped me to be here. night: to my teammates, coaches, coaches and all those who work for Real Madrid and Croatia, my family, my wife and my children who fill me up as a person and help me to achieve success, "Modric said after receive the prize The Real Madrid recognized that it was his "dream to play in a great team and win important trophies, and the Golden Ball is certainly more than a dream", he added. "If I have won it means that I have done something special in the field, without doubt 2018 is a special year," stressed a Modric who highlighted "perseverance, hard work, persistence in difficult times and faith in oneself. "like" the foundations of talent ".

The fourth in the voting was Kylian Mbappé, the star of Paris Saint Germain, the star of France with permission of Antoine Griezmann, third on the podium (414 points). In addition to the Atlético de Madrid striker and the winner, among the ten finalists were Raphaël Varane, of Madrid, and, of course, the culé Messi. It is clear that the League is a lot of League. Mbappé, the Frenchman who could be Real Madrid, won the Kopa trophy for the first time to distinguish the best player under 21 years. Griezmann acknowledged that he had a "small disappointment" when he knew that he had been overcome Modric and Cristiano: "When I They said I wanted to be left alone, but I am proud to be among the finalists, I am here out of respect for my teammates, I hope to be able to replace Luka soon, and for that I count on my teammates and in France, "he said. Previously, the female trophy had been handed over, also for the first time. Ada Hegelberg, a Norwegian who plays for Olympique Lyon, opens a list that makes room for the growing presence of women in sports. No one would say that on Saturday Paris experienced its most violent night since May 68, according to Libération. Life went on Monday while moons were repaired and canopies replaced. France is experiencing one of its periodic crises. But life inside the Grand Palais was red and gold. The red carpet smelled of cologne in the path of football players gummed for the occasion. The old building built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900 will be closed in two years. A millionaire investment will leave it as new and in 2024 the fencing and taekwondo competitions will be held here. So there is hope for a Spanish medal. At the moment, it is Modric's Grand Palais.

Classification of the Golden Ball 2018

1. Luka Modric (CRO / Real Madrid) 753 points.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo (POR / Juventus / Real Madrid) 476.
3. Antoine Griezmann (FRA / Atlético de Madrid) 414.
4. Kylian Mbappé (FRA / PSG) 347.
5. Leo Messi (ARG / FC Barcelona) 280.
6. Mohamed Salah (EGI / Liverpool) 188.
7. Raphaël Varane (FRA / Real Madrid) 121.
8. Eden Hazard (BEL / Chelsea) 119.
9. Kevin De Bruyne (BEL / Manchester City) 29.
10. Harry Kane (ING / Tottenham) 25.
11. N'Golo Kanté (FRA / Chelsea) 24.
12. Neymar (BRA / PSG) 19.
13. Luis Suárez (URU / FC Barcelona) 17.
14. Thibaut Courtois (BEL / Real Madrid / Chelsea) 12.
15. Paul Pogba (FRA / Manchester United) 9.
16. Sergio Agüero (ARG / Manchester City) 7.
17. Gareth Bale (GAL / Real Madrid) 6.
    .- Karim Benzema (FRA / Real Madrid) 6.
18. Roberto Firmino (BRA / Liverpool) 4.
    .- Ivan Rakitic (CRO / FC Barcelona) 4.
    .- Sergio Ramos (ESP / Real Madrid) 4.
19. Edinson Cavani (URU / PSG) 3.
    .- Sadio Mané (SEN / Liverpool) 3.
    .- Marcelo (BRA / Real Madrid) 3.
20. Alisson Becker (BRA / Liverpool) 2.
    .- Mario Mandzukic (CRO / Juventus) 2.
    .- Jan Oblak (SLO / Atlético de Madrid) 2.
21. Diego Godín (URU / Atlético de Madrid) 1.
22. Isco (ESP / Real Madrid) 0.
    .- Hugo Lloris (FRA / Tottenham) 0.