#3 End of dominance at the Ballon d'Or
![The man to break the dominance of Messi and Ronaldo at the Ballon'd'Or](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/12/0b960-15462533815959-800.jpg?w=190 190w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/12/0b960-15462533815959-800.jpg?w=720 720w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/12/0b960-15462533815959-800.jpg?w=640 640w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/12/0b960-15462533815959-800.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/12/0b960-15462533815959-800.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/12/0b960-15462533815959-800.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/12/0b960-15462533815959-800.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/12/0b960-15462533815959-800.jpg 1920w)
Ten years of dominance of Messi and Ronaldo at the Ballon d'Or stage finally saw its end when Croatian midfield wizard Luka Modric won the top honour in 2018. He became the first person other than Messi and Ronaldo, to win the highest individual award in football since 2007.
Croatian led an unheard and unknown side to the finals of the FIFA World Cup 2018. He also played a pivotal role in Real Madrid record-breaking thirteenth Champion League win.
![Ada Hegerberg-The Lionel Messi of women football](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/12/03456-15462534121418-800.jpg?w=190 190w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/12/03456-15462534121418-800.jpg?w=720 720w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/12/03456-15462534121418-800.jpg?w=640 640w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/12/03456-15462534121418-800.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/12/03456-15462534121418-800.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/12/03456-15462534121418-800.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/12/03456-15462534121418-800.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2018/12/03456-15462534121418-800.jpg 1920w)
Also, Ada Hegerberg became the first woman Ballon d'Or winner. The 23-year-old, Lyon and Norweign footballing superstar was the highest scorer in the Champions League this year. She also scored in final against Wolfsburg as Lyon became the first team to win Champions League thrice in a row.