Cristiano Ronaldo will stay away from the Ballon D’Or ceremony in Paris on Monday after reports he will miss out on the top prize.
With Ronaldo second and Lionel Messi not making the top three, Sky Italia have reported that Luka Modric will scoop the prestigious award.
The Croatian playmaker will add the Balllon D’or to the FIFA best men’s player award he won earlier this year.
This comes after lifting a third successive Champions League trophy with helping his country reach the World Cup final.
World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann is likely to complete the top three after a stunning season both internationally and domestically.
If Modric does indeed lift the trophy, it will be the first time since 2007 – when Kaka won the award – that it has not gone to Messi or Ronaldo.
Across those 10 seasons, the Ballon D’Or has been split equally among the pair – the Argentinian lifting it in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.
His rival first claimed it in 2008 then regained it in 2013 and 2014 and has lifted it for the past two years.
The Kopa Award, for best young player, is reportedly heading to Kylian Mbappe, for his efforts in firing France to a second World Cup triumph and impressive season with title winners Paris Saint-Germain.
www.sojworld.com (c) December 2, 2018.
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