Croatian footballer Luka Modric’s fairytale career as a footballer saw a monumental addition on Monday. The lanky midfielder with an extraordinary footballing brain was named the best player in the world by FIFA. The Croatia captain pipped Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah to earn the prestigious award. With a massive 29 percent of the votes, he became the first Croat to do so.
However, apart from his expertise with the football, Luka Modric is a gem of an individual. And if you are looking for proof, his heartwarming speech after bagging the greatest individual honor in the sport is a prime example.
Even after being crowned the best midfielder on the planet, Modric kept his emotions at check. Speaking in his not-so-heavy voice, Modric dedicated the prize to his teammates who helped him win the Champions League and reach the finals of the FIFA World Cup. And of course, the young boy who once lived his life as a refugee did not forget his family.
“This award is not just mine. It is my team mates’ from Real Madrid and Croatia. Without my coaches, I would not have won this and without my family I would not be the player I am today.”
Talking about the magnanimity of the moment, defeating aliens like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi is no joke. For a fact, Modric not only beat the two but ended the duo’s 10 years of dominance over the prize in an emphatic manner.
When Modric led his team to the World Cup final in Moscow, he had already made a statement. A statement which highlighted that nothing is impossible. He had paved the way for other small countries to believe in themselves and take the fight to the heavyweights. And in his speech, he reminded the world once again.
“It is very important, because for such a small country to win the best player award, it’s something amazing and that shows other small countries that everything is possible. You just need to believe and to work for it. And that all dreams could come true.”
Luka Modric victory isn’t a one just for himself. It is a win for all the people who are struggling to earn a living, it is a win for all the people born in lesser-known parts of the world. And most importantly, it is a win for everyone who has loved the beautiful game of football.
Soon after winning the award, Modric added a tweet to say so.
Dedicated to everyone who loves football ⚽️❤️ pic.twitter.com/pCAs2Llc7i
— Luka Modrić (@lukamodric10) September 24, 2018
You can see his touching speech here:
Congratulations Luka Modric, you are an inspiration for millions. <3