After a fantastic season for both club and country, Luka Modric was named as the UEFA Champions League midfielder of the season.
Out of nominees Toni Kroos, Kevin de Bruyne and Luka Modric, it was the Croatian player that took home the prize.
He was the favourite to win the award, and the bookies got it right, as he was awarded the accolate on Thursday night in Monaco.
The Croatian shone all season, and there is no doubt that he deserves the award.
The UEFA prize goes to the Real Madrid man who won his third consecutive Champions League title this season, and made a huge difference in clashes between Bayern, PSG and Liverpool.
? 2017/18 #UCL Midfielder of the Season!
⭐️ Luka Modrić ???#UEFAawards #UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/T8RggiRIG2
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 30, 2018
World Cup Player of The Tournament
Luka Modric also won the Golden Ball for the best player at the 2018 World Cup in July.
The Croatia captain and Real Madrid midfielder inspired his side to the final for the first time in their history but was powerless to prevent Didier Deschamps’ men from taking the trophy 4-2 in Moscow.
⚽️ #CRO captain @lukamodric10 is the best player of the 2018 @FIFAWorldCup in Russia!
? Congratulations to the #WorldCup Golden Ball winner! #BeProud #Croatia #WorldCupFinal #Vatreni? pic.twitter.com/IR5T2xljrd— HNS | CFF (@HNS_CFF) July 15, 2018
Modric beat Belgium forward Eden Hazard and Antoine Griezmann, who claimed a winner’s medal after netting for ‘Les Bleus’ in the final, to the prize.
FIFA’s Technical Study Group decided the winner of the award, which was given to Argentina’s Lionel Messi in 2014. Past winners include Zinedine Zidane, Brazil great Ronaldo, Diego Maradona and Paolo Rossi.
Modric is also among the early favourites to win the 2018 Ballon d’Or later this year.