Now sharing a locker room at Real Madrid, legendary midfielder Luka Modric revealed to Kylian Mbappe what he needs to do to win the Ballon d’Or.
Luka Modric, one of the few players to break the Cristiano Ronaldo–Lionel Messi dominance of the Ballon d’Or, has solidified his legacy as one of the greatest midfielders of the 21st century. Now in a secondary role at Real Madrid, the Croatian legend shared his insights with teammate Kylian Mbappe, advising him on what it takes to win the prestigious award.
Despite a rocky start in Spain, Mbappe has turned his fortunes around and is having a memorable season that could culminate in multiple trophies. In an interview with Telefoot, Modric shared his thoughts on the French star’s character and performance.
“He is one of the best players in the world. He has the ability to do things that have never been seen before. What impressed me most about Mbappé was his personality, his way of being. He’s an incredible guy, very humble, always willing to joke around, help his teammates. He’s very calm,” Modric remarked.
Modric also weighed in on Mbappe’s current season, acknowledging his continued brilliance despite it not being considered one of his best: “From the outside, we can say that he hasn’t had his best season, but he’s scored 30 goals—imagine if it were his best season. One of the best players I’ve seen. He’s a wonderful guy.”
The key to winning the Ballon d’Or
Before the UEFA Nations League first leg against Croatia, Mbappe jokingly mentioned that he would ask Modric how to win the Ballon d’Or. Modric responded with a hopeful message for his teammate, offering his advice on how to earn the coveted award.
“I tell him to keep helping Real Madrid win games, I’m sure he’ll be one of the favorites to win not just one Ballon d’Or, but several,” Modric confidently stated, expressing his faith in the young French forward.
Modric won the 2018 Ballon d’Or after an outstanding season with Real Madrid, where he helped the club win the UEFA Champions League, and with Croatia, where he led them to the 2018 FIFA World Cup final.
Ironically, Modric lost that World Cup final to Mbappe’s France. Due to his overwhelming performance in the competition, the tournament saw Mbappe finish fourth in the Ballon d’Or race at just 20 years old, behind only Antoine Griezmann, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Modric himself.
