Football news - Luka Modric wins Ballon d’Or to end Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominance

Updated 03/12/2018 at 21:32 GMT

Luka Modric has been crowned the Ballon d’Or 2018 winner, ending Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s 10-year domination of the coveted award for the game's best player.

Luka Modric

Image credit: Getty Images

It caps off a memorable year for Modric, who won his third Champions League in a row at Real Madrid before inspiring Croatia to the World Cup final against all odds.

Ronaldo second; Messi fifth
Griezmann pips Mbappe into third
Salah finishes sixth, Kane 10th
Scroll down for results in full

Last year's winner Ronaldo finished in second after claiming his fifth Champions League title, while AntoineGriezmann surprisingly pipped compatriot KylianMbappe into third following France’s World Cup victory.

Ballon d'Or

Andy Murray: Sexism levels in sport are ‘unreal’

04/12/2018 at 08:37

Messi came in fifth, making it the first time since 2006 that the five-time winner was not in the top three, while Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah was the highest-placed Premier League player in sixth.

FRANCE’S WORLD CUP WINNERS

Six of France’s World Cup winners were named in the top 30. Griezmann topped the lot in third, with Mbappe fourth. RaphaelVarane (seventh), N’GoloKante (11th), PaulPogba (15th) and HugoLloris (joint 29th) also featured.

Griezmann was named man-of-the-match in the 4-2 World Cup final win against Croatia, scoring one and assisting another. Pogba was also on target in that win, so too Mbappe, who picked up the Best Young Player award in Russia. The PSG striker - named the best U21 player of 2018 on Monday - also finished fourth in FIFA's The Best awards earlier this year, with Griezmann down in sixth.

TOP TEN FOR KANE

Tottenham striker Harry Kane finished 10th having picked up the World Cup Golden Boot in Russia, where England reached the semi-finals.

He was the fourth-highest Premier League player on the list, with Salah, Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne above him.

Harry Kane (England)

Image credit: Getty Images

As well as French trio Kante, Pogba and Lloris, the other Premier League players to make the cut were SergioAguero (16th), RobertoFirmino (joint 19th), SadioMane (joint 22nd) and AlissonBecker (joint 25th).

BALLON D’OR LIST IN FULL

1. Luka Modric (Real Madrid/CRO)
2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/Juventus/POR)
3. Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid/FRA)
4. Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA)
5. Lionel Messi (Barcelona/ARG)
6. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool/EGY)
7. Raphael Varane (Real Madrid/FRA)
8. Eden Hazard (Chelsea/BEL)
9. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City/BEL)
10. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur/ENG)
11. N’Golo Kante (Chelsea/FRA)
12. Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain/BRA
13. Luis Suarez (Barcelona/URU)
14. Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea/Real Madrid/BEL)
15. Paul Pogba (Manchester United/FRA)
16. Sergio Aguero (Manchester City/ARG)
=17. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid/WAL)
=17. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid/FRA)
=19. Roberto Firmino (Liverpool/BRA)
=19. Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona/CRO)
=19. Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid/ESP)
=22. Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint-Germain/URU)
=22. Sadio Mane (Liverpool/SEN)
=22. Marcelo (Real Madrid/BRA)
=25. Alisson Becker (Roma/Liverpool/BRA)
=25. Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid/SLO)
=25. Mario Mandzukic (Juventus/CRO)
28. Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid/URU)
=29. Hugo Lloris (Tottenham/FRA)
=29. Isco (Real Madrid/ESP)

Ballon d'Or

Raphael Varane should win this year’s Ballon d’Or, but he won’t

03/12/2018 at 08:06

Transfers

Zidane on verge of becoming new Bayern boss - Paper Round

an hour ago

Barclays WSL

Bergsvand own goal gifts Everton victory over Brighton

an hour ago

Join 3M+ users on app

Stay up to date with the latest news, results and live sports

Download

Scan me