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

#3 A win for football

Luka Modric - He had an exceptional year

Being a midfielder, Luka Modric may not possess the extraordinary statistics of both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, but he was as vital to his club and country as forwards like Cristiano and Messi, maybe more at times.

Luka Modric helped Croatia dominate opponents at the World Cup, although Croatia were underdogs in most of these matches. No one expected Croatia to reach the finals of the World Cup, but they did just that due to Modric's excellent and consistent displays throughout the tournament.

Modric was also the brains behind Real Madrid's superb performances which resulted in them retaining the UEFA Champions League again. It spelled danger for rivals whenever Modric was on the ball, and his unquestionable impact cannot be measured by mere numbers.

While a great forward like Cristiano enjoyed putting the ball into the net numerous times, Modric played a quiet but crucial role behind the creation of the chances.

At times, football can be a cruel sport. Generally, the individual awards rarely look beyond the statistics and numbers to recognise a midfielder, defender, or a goalkeeper who may be a vital cog for their teams.

Although it may break the hearts of numerous fans, it's time a priceless genius like Luka Modric gets the recognition he deserves for his thankless service for club and country.