Croatia may have lost their first attempt to become World Champions last Sunday against France, but this Balkan team will be fondly remembered - particularly captain Luka Modric.
Besides leaving Russia with a runner-ups medal, the 32-year-old Real Madrid midfielder also grabbed the competition's Golden Ball - awarded to the Best Player at the World Cup.
🥇 Golden Ball winners (fr. 1982):
— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) 16 de julio de 2018
2018 🇭🇷 MODRIC
2014 🇦🇷 Messi
2010 🇺🇾 Forlán
2006 🇫🇷 Zidane
2002 🇩🇪 Kahn
1998 🇧🇷 Ronaldo
1994 🇧🇷 Romário
1990 🇮🇹 Schillaci
1986 🇦🇷 Maradona
1982 🇮🇹 Paolo Rossi#WorldCup #Russia2018 pic.twitter.com/2rpsrMTxWT
In existence since 1982, the Golden Ball has previously been handed to the likes of Maradona, Romário, Messi and Zidane...not bad company to keep!
Check out @playmaker_EN for all the best football stats, facts and curiousities.
4-2 | ||
Antoine Griezmann 38' (pen.) Paul Pogba 59' Kylian Mbappé 65' | Mario Mandzukic 19' (o.g.) 69' Ivan Perisic 28' |