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. 

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