World Cup 2018: Golden Ball Power Rankings

#1 Luka Modric

Luka Modric

The Golden Ball usually goes to a forward- the only non-forwards to win the award over the past 50 years are Zinedine Zidane and Oliver Kahn. The award also tends to go to a player who makes the final of the tournament: only two non-finalists have won. Luka Modric is not a forward and Croatia will most likely not make it to the World Cup final. Yet when it is all said and done, Modric might still be one of the top contenders for the award- that’s how good the little Croatian has been.

For years, Croatia have underperformed as Modric and Ivan Rakitic have failed to fulfil their potential in midfield. This World Cup has been a different story as Croatia first dismantled a promising Nigeria side before absolutely crushing one of the favourites for the tournament: Argentina. Modric has been the engine of the Croatian side from an advanced position. The Real Madrid man has been at the centre of everything Croatia have done in this tournament as his through passes have decimated fragile Nigerian and Argentine defenses.

But let’s not pretend that Modric has done anything in this tournament which comes close to his wonderful strike against Argentina. What made it remarkable was how closely defended Modric was- there was literally only one way Modric could have scored from that position and he found it. It would take a brave man to doubt him and Croatia going forward.