The 2018 Ballon d’Or awards could be the end of a decade dominance of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi who have both won it five times each in the last ten years.

Having had a sterling performance at the just concluded 2018 FIFA World Cup and previous seasons triumph at UEFA competition, Luka Modric, who was awarded Europe’s World Best and FIFA Best player of the year is once again tipped to scoop the Ballon d’Or Award in France.

The Croatian captain became the first man to be crowned FIFA Best Men’s Player award outside the duo of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo since Kaka cinched the award in 2007. Modric could as well end another dominance in Paris tonight.

France Football will announce the winners of three awards namely;

Men Ballon d’Or Award
Women Ballon d’Or Award
Kopa Trophy Award (for outstanding young players)

Here are 5 stats you probably don’t know about the 2018 Ballon d’Or;

1. The legendary duo of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are the only players to have won the Ballon d’Or Awards five times each, with both players getting on the top 3 list in the last ten years.


2. The Ballon d’Or awards have been extended to the Women’s category for the first time in its 62 years of inception. Having shortlisted 15-women for the France football award, the 2018 Ballon d’Or will witness for the first time in history, the Women Ballon d’Or award and the Kopa Trophy Award for the U-21 players.

3. Fifteen of the 30-man shortlist for this years’ Ballon d’Or play their club football in Spain, with eight of the shortlisted players in Real Madrid.

4. Ballon d’Or, in the last two decades, has been dominated by Players in the Spanish Primera Liga, With Just one winner; Michael Owen from the English Premier League in 2001.

5.If Luka Modric wins the 2018 French Football awards, he’ll have successfully won four individual awards in a calendar year, as he has previously won the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball, UEFA Player of the Year award and the FIFA Best Player Award, all in 2018


Read More: https://hotsportstv.com/5-stats-you-may-not-know-about-2018-ballon-dor-awards/

Modric don already win am