In an exclusive interview with Croatian media Sportske novosti, Luka Modric has hit out at both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on declining to attend the Best FIFA Football Awards and Ballon d'Or ceremonies this year...
Luka Modric ends Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's 10-year duopoly on Best FIFA Men's Player and Ballon d'Or this year, having helped Real Madrid to the third consecutive Champions League title and Croatia national team to World Cup runners-up.
However, it has drawn criticism about the credentials of both awards - and both Messi and Ronaldo did not attend the ceremony.
For the first time ever, Modric has spoken about his feelings - and he certainly does not hold back.
How do you feel about Messi and Ronaldo not attending Ballon d'Or ceremony?
I can't say why somebody decided not to show up, that's their choice. It doesn't make much sense to me not to attend, though.
I guess they liked showing up when they were winning the awards. Such behavior is unfair towards the other players, the fans, the game and finally towards the voters who gave them the award for 10 years in a row. But I guess everyone acts as they please...
Maybe they didn't like you ending their domination in this competition? And Messi did vote for you, to be fair.
Look, it's all very simple to me. Messi and Ronaldo are two football phenoms that have been dominating the game for the last decade.
They are a cut above the rest, skill-wise. But this is a seasonal award. Most of the players, managers, football legends, journalists and fans voted for the same winner (in major award shows this year).
I guess they are all wrong? If we are giving out awards based on skill only, then just cancel the voting and give them all to Messi and Ronaldo.
It looks like Real Madrid are extending your contract with a pay rise?
What is certain for sure is that I will be a member of Real until the end of the contract.
Hatendra Bali
685
Modric won because of what he achieved in the last season ( country and club both ). People can say all they want ( after all everyone is entitled to have their own opinions ) but they can't deny the fact that while Messi & Ronaldo did well for their stars studded clubs, Modric did that too. But for their country Modric achieved much more then others. When Ronaldo & Messi won these awards they felt grateful that most of the people voted for them but now that someone else won they are acting like this award is garbage. Choosing not to attend this award ceremony is acceptable provided they doesn't attend these kind of things at all, but on the other hand if they attend when they win and choose to skip when they don't that's just disrespectful to everyone who votes for these guys. Even though I'm not a fan of theirs, I still know that Messi & Ronaldo are great players of the current football era, but this kind of behavior really shows what kind of people they are. They can act good all they want but at the end of the day it's their actions which counts.
Leydiko
448
Both mess and cr are self centred because they did not show up meaning each need every thing for himself. These are great players and they should show respect to they fellow players. Wise men always appreciate his fellow whenever good things happens.By attending that ceremony they could gain more respect and that could have inspired other players
Nihaalkanue
315
"If we are giving out awards based on skill only, then just cancel the voting and give them all to Messi and Ronaldo" - modric. this line won my heart.
chimeka10
308
because they are included in receiving awards in a ceremony ,doesn't means they shouldn't go ,if i were them i would go ,even if my name is included or not ,it's good they and congratulate the people who are to receive awards ,that is good sportmanship ,not only them should keep wining it all the time ,others are also there to win it ,and i think that they should be present ,even if to congratulate the winners ,not only them are expected to win it ,i think the saying of modric is true ,whether super star or not ,always congratulate others ,it's part of football ,friendly game (sportmanship )
Lamasia0912
280
Neymar skipped the Balon D'or ceremony to stream blackops 4.😂
_ManUMartial09
246
Since more than 80% of the world have CR7 & LM10 as their idols, i think they should've attended to respect others and congratulate Modric, that is sportsmanship, which the world will never learn because they are watching these two and they are giving bad examples like this
tropicalda
237
I have no problem with Luka Modric winning the Balon D’or, but I do have a problem seeing Messi come fifth when he put up the stats that he did last year Messi completed the following: European Golden Shoe winner,,,La Liga top assist provider,,,, FIFA World Cup Top A,,, Onze D’or,,, La Liga Best Player,,, He scored the most goals in Europe, assisted the most, won La Liga, won Copa Del Rey, won the Supercopa, and saved his team from elimination from the World Cup preliminary stage, as well as being the La Liga Player of the Season. And he came fifth? Fifa is a snub deserves a top three
luvincr7
222
ballon d or is not based on team winning trophies it includes individual performances, so then messi or cr7 deserved this award , but still people and journalist's voted for modric , that's why they didn't show up , both had an outstanding year but just because of thier poor world cup campaigns, they didn't win it , still not able to understand how modric won the ballon d or, but anyway I congratulate modric for it , but again next year either cr7 or messi would win thier 6th ballon d or
MyC-str8t
207
I don't blame CR7 n Leo.. Their intention were clear as they didn't show for the ceremony.. Leo after working so damn hard to win La Liga, Copa del Rey n the Super Copa deserved the Award n how bout CR7?. He worked even harder in a season we thought he wouldn't perform so well in n lifted #halamadrid to #Aporla13🏆, beating Spain all by himself n proving to be great leader for his Country as well, it was just fitting for him to win.. The big blow was as they both were thinking one of em may take it, there n there Modric huffed n puffed on their party.. Basically they were too disappointed to even show up. No hard feelings, let's move on😊
Shadownet
205
I support Messi, and have every reason to believe hebus head and shoulders above every other player in the game. The next person after him should be Cristiano Ronaldo and then the rest of the players. No unto the main matter, football changes as season changes. U don't expect Messi and Ronaldo to win this award every year, because as Modric said, it is Seasonal. If the Award was for Most talented in football, then The award would be shared between Messi and Ronaldo, till their retirement date, but unfortunately it's not for most talented. That I support Messi or I support Ronaldo, does not mean I would support them when they put up wrong actions in Public. Award or No Award, Both have no right to miss the ceremony because they didn't win it. It's an Insult to Modric and other players. When both retire, they'll be remembered as the greatest footballers if all time, and I bet u No Football award will kick off without them being present, so why tarnish the award just because they didn't win it. What they did was absolutely wrong....
CR7RealMadrid12
157
Modrid would you attend a ceremony were you know you have been robbed of what you deserve? This is not about being unfair it about Fifa, UEFA and ballon d'or deciding themselves to end a duo monopoly even when both players performed to the standard that would normally give them the awards... If I was Messi and CR7 I personally wouldn't attend these awards either, it's disrespectful to them as well, knowing that they should be the ones competing against each other but they are not... How offensive was that to Messi to end up 5th place? Does that make sense? So I'm glad they both didn't attend these ceremony awards cause it was all robberies
Fresh Pepper
137
This is true... The behaviour of Messi and Ronaldo not showing up cos they are not taking is unfair Though I was not so happy seeing Messi in number 5 and I wanted CR7 taking the Ballon d or but its not so cool for them not to attend cos they missed out on it... We all know they are legends and they won't ever be forgotten in the football world but they should have been there At least to congratulate Modric; Plenty players keep showing up since the last decade when they know the award is for CR7 and LM10 CR7 and LM10 should show respect to other players I like Modric well now; He is a mature man and outspoken
Faoson
121
It is not about unfair that they don't attend it is about betrayal. Ronaldo thinks he deserves this award and Messi atleast deserve to be top 3. To be fair enough for this award one person one vote would be fair enough but this award is like one person can vote 5 times. I think Modric got this award out of sympathy. If this is base on trophy why didn't Varane won it. If it is base on worldcup why don't Grienzmann or mbappe won and if it is base on UCL why don't Ronaldo won it If it is base on stats and individual performance why don't Messi won it. Modric won coz one person can vote like three time so most of them choose Modric as favourite and he won....Golden ball in worldcup doesn't mean you are best player in champion league. Most of them vote for him as he is got golden ball. This voter want something change for this year award or they don't want to hold this award once again by old granny Messi and Ronaldo.
Shinojohnew
90
ballon d'or should not be a world cup and champions league team award, but individuals award. in that case modric won't be in top 10. personal stat shows that only messi and ronaldo deserve it. but everyone got tired of voting both of them for the last 10 years. that's why modric got it
zatdnpuyz
56
I agree that it was bad for both Messi and Ronaldo to have missed the award ceremonies. But that aside, there were attempts to humiliate Messi. Coming 5th, surely, this was in bad taste. At least for Ronaldo,he was put in 2nd place. The whole thing was shambolic n meant to embarrass Messi. Next time, let the panelists do a good job n act fairly, otherwise, the whole thing will lack meaning. You can’t put the top scorer in a Season and one with the most assists in the same season in 5th position.That was the wrong thing in the first place. I sympathize wid Modric that these two stole the glamour that the award was expected to come wid. But management is to blame. In the same position wid Messi, I would do the same
Notdpstyz
55
Ofcourse they should have attended, but the fact is they have been winning it constantly and suddenly when cr7 should have won it even this year but didn't get it even in the puskas which was clearly unfair as well as Messi he should have been in top three, he deserves more than Salah , what would they answer when a journalist ask them how do you feel that modric won and not u , . They are saying modric took his country to World Cup Final and dats clearly a joke I don't understand it's Antonio Griezman who deserve more than this man who deserves to be in top three , and yes of course it's always nice to see who can make the difference and🤔 break that dous Out from the trophy list . But the fact is Give the award who deserves that.... and be fair
Henryrukis
39
they choose not to attend the ceremony because it's all joke. the guy that won it is no where near the half legs of both Messi and cr7. what was his achievements? how many goals did he scored? how many assist? how man tackles did he win, how many successful passes did he make? the fact that he played a world cup final does not mean that he has achieved something. what about players like griezman who won the world cup? if it's by world cup achievement, griezman should win grab that award because he also put up a great performance at the UEFA Europa league. for a player that scored the most goals in Europe top 5 league to be omited is just more than enough for him to seat out of that ceremony. it's their choice and FIFA truly know what they are doing. football is now like politics.
25489464(deleted)
39
Now Modric is speaking. He should be ashamed of what happened.It's just not about stats and performance we all know that, he won for doing nothing compared to Messi or Ronaldo. If world cup performance is that matters why players like Iniesta, Xavi, Sneijder, Pirlo and many more never win in their lives. By looking world cup performance France won it so their players are more likely to win it. Now everyone want to talk about sportsmanship but think you are in their position, a player who got less goals and performed worse than you came on top and you are down below especially for Messi it's absurd. I fell both of them and Luka he don't deserved it even in a million of years.
VanishPrasad
30
Modric made history this year. He did what no one else could since the Brazillian Maestro, Ricardo Kaka. He gave his honest opinions on Messi and CR7. They both should have attended the awards ceremony as professional athletes and respect the eventual winner, Luka. There are so many reasons to love this guy, his performance was quite outstanding and he derseves it.💖