Luka Modric Wins Golden Ball at 2018 World Cup

Croatia's captain took home the award for best player at the World Cup.

Luka Modric was awarded the Golden Ball as the World Cup's best player after France beat Croatia 4-2 in the World Cup final.

Modric, 32, scored two goals and had one assist in Russia. Croatia's captain also led the tournament in minutes played and miles ran. At the club level, Modric has won four Champions League titles with Real Madrid.

Modric helped lead Croatia to their first appearance in the World Cup final this year. He was on the 2006 and 2014 squads that were eliminated in the group stage. Croatia did not qualify for the World Cup in 2010.

adidas Golden Ball Award:

🥇Luka MODRIC (#CRO)
🥈Eden HAZARD (#BEL)
🥉Antoine GRIEZMANN (#FRA) #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/KQSRiwUznh

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 15, 2018

Eden Hazard of Belgium finished second for the award and France's Antoine Griezmann came in third. Modric, meanwhile, continued the recent trend of players from non-World-Cup-winning sides winning the top individual honors.

Here's a complete list of the past Golden Ball and best player winners: 

1930 - José Nasazzi, Uruguay

1934 - Giuseppe Meazza, Italy

1938 - Leônidas, Brazil

1942 - Zizinho, Brazil

1954 - Ferenc Puskás, Hungary

1958 - Didi, Brazil

1962 - Garrincha, Brazil

1966 - Bobby Charlton, England

1970 - Pelé, Brazil

1974 - Johan Cruyff, Netherlands

1978 - Mario Kempes, Argentina

1982 - Paolo Rossi, Italy

1986 - Diego Maradona, Argentina

1990 - Salvatore Schillaci, Italy

1994 - Romário, Brazil

1998 - Ronaldo, Brazil

2002 - Oliver Kahn, Germany

2006 - Zinedine Zidane, France

2010 - Diego Forlán, Uruguay

2014 - Lionel Messi, Argentina

2018 - Luka Modric, Croatia