#2. Luka Modric
There were many players who seized the FIFA World Cup as a decent opportunity to increase their chances of winning the Ballon d'Or this year and Real Madrid superstar, Luka Modric is definitely at the forefront.
Carrying an immense responsibility of leading an under-dog nation on the grandest stage of all, the playmaker impressed with the role in Russia - producing extraordinary performances and leading Croatia to their first ever World Cup final.
Before his success at the international stage, Luka Modric had already helped Real Madrid to win their third consecutive UEFA Champions League title in May and he will definitely compete with Cristiano Ronaldo for the Ballon d'Or award this year.
Edited by Sripad