Luka Modric recalled how a conversation with Zinedine Zidane gave him the confidence to go on and win the Ballon d’Or.
Nobody will forget Modric’s remarkable campaign in 2018 that ended with the Real Madrid star ending Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s duopoly for the Ballon d’Or award.
He was nothing less than outstanding on route to helping Real Madrid claim a third successive Champions League title and Croatia to their first-ever World Cup final.
It turns out, though, Modric had never envisaged winning the Ballon d’Or until Zidane became Real Madrid manager in 2016.
🇭🇷 Luka Modric in 2018:
🏆 Champions League winner
🏆 Club World Cup winner
🥈 World Cup runner-up
🪙 World Cup Golden Ball winner
🏅 UEFA Team of the Year
🥇 UEFA Player of the Year
🥇 The Best winner
🥇 Ballon d'Or winner😍 Phenomenal. pic.twitter.com/bi2SO09zSN
— Mr Green Sport (@MrGreenSport) August 26, 2020
The Frenchman, who won the award himself in 1998, saw the potential in Modric and inspired the Croatian onto greater things.
“I remember it word for word,” Modric recalled to AFP about that life-changing conversation with Zidane in 2016 as quoted on Goal.
“He said, ‘I see you as a player who can one day win the Ballon d’Or’.
“I’d never even thought about the Ballon d’Or before, but when someone like Zizou tells you that, you feel so much confidence.
“It’s why we’ve always had such a great relationship, and I hope he stays at Madrid for a long, long time.”
Modric has managed 10 goals and 24 assists in 154 appearances under Zidane and won his second La Liga title last season.
He’s also claimed three Champions League titles, two Spanish Supercups, two FIFA Club World Cups, and two UEFA Super Cups.
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