Zlatan Ibrahimovic revealed his delight and slight surprise at seeing complete Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric handed multiple individual honours in 2018.
Former Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo had largely hogged the limelight at the Santiago Bernabeu in past seasons, but Modric was influential in the side s third consecutive Champions League and then inspired Croatia srun to the World Cup final.
The ex-Tottenham man s form saw him rewarded with the Golden Ball at Russia 2018 and then the coveted Ballon d Or, won by either Ronaldo or great rival Lionel Messi in each of the previous 10 years.
And LA Galaxy star Ibrahimovic, who came fourth in the 2013 Ballon d Or voting while with Paris Saint-Germain, was encouraged to see a different name in a different position recognised.
I think [Modric] is one of the most complete midfielders in the world, Ibrahimovic told DAZN. He has fantastic pace, he has a vision for the game that is amazing. The ball handling is amazing.
What. A. Year. !
— Luka Modrić (@lukamodric10)
I played against him at an early age, when he was a young player. Now he is an experienced player and I m happy that he won the Ballon d Or, the FIFA best player at the World Cup, all these things, because it s not often that a player like that gets that credit.
Normally it s a striker or somebody that has been wow . But this year, let s say last year, was his year. I m happy that he won.
Me and my mother being from Croatia, he s Croatian, so I m happy. It s part of the blood.
