In addition to winning the most prestigious prize in football, Luka Modrić will receive a bonus from the world’s biggest sports brand.

Immediately after winning the Ballon d’Or in Paris, Luka Modrić sat down with France Football for a tell-all interview, reports Index.hr on December 6, 2018.

Luka Modric on the cover of France Football. pic.twitter.com/WSTYhrWL1x

— RMadridHome (@RMadridHome_) December 4, 2018

The first thing the Croatia captain and Real Madrid midfielder spoke about was the legendary former captain of the Croatia national team - Zvonimir Boban.

"I was playing for Tottenham and was going through a difficult time. Suddenly I received a message: 'Call me if you want. Zvone.” I thought that some of my friends were teasing me, but when I called the number, it was Boban. That conversation psychologically refreshed me, he was a man that I admired, and I was impressed by his past as a player and his simplicity,” Modrić said.

France Football was interested in Modrić’s past, from his adventures at Zrinjski to what happened with Hajduk. Recall, the Split club rejected him, which struck a chord with the footballer. 

"When I started my professional career, I did not know I would reach such a level, even though I dreamed about playing for big clubs. Hajduk did not want me for various reasons, and even when Wenger did not want me, I saw it as just another obstacle I needed to overcome, the desire to show them that they have made a mistake."

But in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it was another story.

"I won my first award 15 years ago. When I was on loan to Zrinjski, the fans declared me the best team player by my team behavior and contributions. The BiH league is very demanding physically, and it is difficult for an 18-year-old player to develop; the referees did not protect me. After that season, I did not fear anything,” Luka said, before adding:

Luka Modric's emotional reaction when he discovers his Ballon d'Or #ballondor

Congrats @lukamodric10 for this amazing year ? pic.twitter.com/JFewApQTd4

— #ballondor (@francefootball) December 4, 2018

“I wanted to play like Boban, be the leader on the field, the key in the midfield, which connects the defense and the attack. Like a quarterback in American football. Others thought my height was a handicap; I did not. My experiences from Bosnia and Herzegovina helped me greatly. I did not feel physically inferior, and I'm stronger than many think... just ask my rivals. I am not afraid of the height of my rivals."

Modrić then switched to topics outside football.

"In basketball, I would certainly be successful, regardless of my height, I would be a good playmaker. I was born in the town of basketball, in Zadar, and I often play at Real's camp where we have a basketball court. And of course, I always win against my teammates! I am the best after Dražen Petrović, haha. The best of all time is Michael Jordan, and I keep one of his quotes stored in my mobile phone so that I can see it every day: 'Every time you fall, get up again.' Jordan never feared failure."

Luka also follows other sports, and especially his fellow countrymen.

"I love the New England Patriots and I love Tom Brady. They even have a Croatian there, as coach Bill Belichick has Croatian roots. The only problem is that they play at night, so I can’t watch them often. From other sports, I like everything where Croatians are successful: I'm a big fan of Marin Čilić, like Goran Ivanišević before, and I play tennis every time I get there."

What does a day in the life of Luka entail?

"I have a profile on Instagram, but I only publish football photos. I get up early and drive my kids in school, I go to lunch at Real Madrid’s center, then I go back to get the kids, and we play at home. I watch movies with my wife in our home theater... I have and a wine cellar with wines from Croatia, Italy, Spain, and France."

To read the full France Football interview, click here. 

To read more about Luka Modrić, follow TCN’s dedicated page here. 

As we all know by now, Luka Modrić won the Ballon d'Or by France Football on Monday, known as the most prestigious individual football award - the winner is considered the best football player in the world, reports Index.hr on December 4, 2018. 

It has long been known that Modrić would win the award and that the ceremony in Paris was merely a formality for Modrić to raise the Ballon d'Or trophy finally. 

As expected, Modrić interviewed with France Football after he received the award, revealing the one person who opened his eyes and said he could certainly be a player who could one day win the Ballon d’Or. 

It was the none other than a legendary Frenchman who took over Real Madrid in January 2016 after Rafa Benitez was dismissed from the bench; a legendary Frenchman who came on to lead the royal club as a "temporary solution." In the next two and a half years, with Modrić on the pitch, Real went on to win three European and one Spanish title, and as a result of this trophy harvest, Modrić went on to win the Ballon d’Or. 

But to do so, someone had to convince Modrić that he was the chosen one. 

"I will never forget that moment; it was January 2016. Zinedine Zidane was just named coach and immediately invited me to his office after training. He explained what kind of player he considered me and what he expected of me. He pointed out that I was crucial in his plans and above all, that he considered me a player who could win the Ballon d’Or.” 

Of course, Modrić was deeply impressed by the words of such a great man: "When someone, like Zidane, with his personality and history, says something like this, your self-confidence goes to uninhabited heights."

Modrić said that his new coach had long been a player and human model: "I am so fond of him as a player, and as I developed as a football player, I saw him as a role model, not just a player because, like him, I'm calm and shy."

Zidane knew it all and asked Modrić to “express himself on the pitch", to be as open as possible and to have authority. 

"I became the key player for Real at the crucial moment of my career. Zidane’s words helped me to develop my game to the fullest," said Luka. 

Modrić admits, however, that Zidane's words were tough to believe.

"I must honestly say that even though he told me that I was a future winner of the Ballon d'Or, I did not dare to believe it."

To learn about Luka Modrić, follow TCN's dedicated page here. 

December 3, 2018 - Luka Modrić has become the first Croatian to win the most prestigious award in football - the Ballon d’Or. 

ZAGREB, December 3, 2018 - Zagreb's County Court has upheld a ruling by Zagreb's Municipal Court to quash Luka Modrić’s perjury indictment. The Croatia and Real Madrid midfielder was charged with perjury in a trial against former Dinamo football club director Zdravko Mamić before Osijek's County Court.

Zagreb County Court spokesman Krešimir Devčić said on Monday that the decision made by the municipal court in early October was sustained and thus became final.

The Osijek prosecutorial authorities alleged that despite being warned that perjury is a criminal offence, Modrić gave evidence as a witness at the Mamić trial, his testimony being different from what he had said in an earlier deposition.

At the trial, Modric spoke about financial details of his 2008 transfer from Dinamo to Tottenham. Modrić said that he had a deal with Mamic to pay the club 50 percent of the transfer and that the 2008 transfer was worth between 21 million euro and 23 million euro.

Mamić, his brother Zoran, former Dinamo director Damir Vrbanović and tax agent Milan Pernar were charged with defrauding the club of almost 116 million kuna and the state budget of 12.2 million kuna in unpaid taxes. Mamić was sentenced in June to six and a half years in prison pending appeal but he fled to Bosnia and Herzegovina before his verdict was announced. Since, along with Croatian citizenship, he also holds the citizenship of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnian authorities have refused to extradite him to Croatia.

For more on the Zdravko Mamić case, click here.

“He really is the man of the year, and I think that he will win the Golden Ball. I do not see another player that can approach Luka. Many hope for the award, but the Golden Ball has only one name: Luka Modrić,” said Predrag Mijatović.

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