Xavi: I appreciate Modric's dedication, it was nice of him

After Luka Modric dedicated his Ballon d'Or in part to Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez, the midfielder has responded with a message of thanks.

The Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo stranglehold on the honour finally came to an end this year but Modric highlighted how Xavi and others were deserving of it in the past.

"Maybe there were other players who could have won it in recent years and didn't like Xavi, [Andres] Iniesta or [Wesley] Sneijder but it wasn't to be for them," Modric said.

"Now people wanted something different and it is a victory for football so I'm very happy but this award is also for those players who probably deserved to win but didn't."

"It was very nice for me to hear that and the truth is that it is much appreciated," Xavi told reporters in Qatar at the presentation of the Losail Stadium.

"I'm happy that the award went to him, although I thought Messi would win it.

"I would give it Messi every year obviously but it can't be that way. I miss playing with him and everyone else at Barcelona."