Ballon d'Or 2018: 3 reasons why Luka Modric deserves the award more than Cristiano Ronaldo

#2 Biggest big game player

Luka Modric - Maestro!

It is obvious that a player of Luka Modric's level is a game changer. Anything can happen with him on the ball, and his teams dominate more with the ball at his feet. Considering the current year, it is quite clear that Modric dominated more big games than any other player in the world.

Luka Modric is surely a genius, and he weaved his magic against most of the toughest opponents he faced throughout the year. With the ball at his feet, the maestro was a key playmaker for both Real Madrid and Croatia.

What separates him from other contenders is his sheer versatility against big rivals. He created chances with his exquisite passing and vision, and carried the ball forward tirelessly. But despite his prowess with the ball, he tracked back, snatched the ball away from the feet of his opponents, and played out of his natural position numerous times to help his team.

His impact on the pitch is evident as Real Madrid and Croatia marched on fearlessly against big opponents, and with effortless ease at times. It would be wrong to credit a single man for a feat achieved by a team in a team sport, but Modric was certainly the pivotal reason for their successes.