Ballon d'Or 2018: 3 unique feats Luka Modric will achieve if he wins the coveted trophy

#2 He would become the first central midfielder to win the award

Xavi came close to winning the award

No central midfielder has managed to win the Ballon d’Or till date. Modric plays as a central midfielder for both Real Madrid and Croatia, although he switches to a more advanced role for his national side at times.

Modric has earned 118 caps for his national team and scored 14 goals. Moreover, he has also had numerous assists, the most recent of which came against a UEFA Nations League match against Spain, when his cross from the left-wing led to a Croatian goal.

There have been great central midfielders like Xavi and Paul Scholes in recent times, but they have not been able to win the Ballon d'Or. Xavi came quite close twice but was voted 3rd on both the occasions.

Lothar Matthaus, the recipient of the award in 1991, also played in the central midfield at times. However, during that season, he mostly played as an attacking midfielder. He actually scored 4 goals in the 1990 World Cup and that World Cup triumph was a major reason behind his Ballon d'Or win that year.