Michel Platini: Raphael Varane Should Win Ballon d'Or Ahead of Modric, Ronaldo

Varane won the World Cup and Champions League title with France and Real Madrid, respectively, and that's good enough for Michel Platini.

Real Madrid center back Raphael Varane should win the 2018 Ballon d'Or because he has achieved more than anyone else this year by winning both the Champions League and the World Cup, according to former UEFA president and fellow countryman Michel Platini.

Varane was named on the 30-man shortlist for the prestigious prize in October, but it is the likes of Luka Modric, Cristiano Ronaldo and Antoine Griezmann who are favorites to win.

But while Modric and Ronaldo were Champions League winners and Griezmann held the World Cup aloft, Varane is the only player on the planet who actually won both trophies in 2018.

"There is only one player that has won the Champions League and the World Cup and he is called Varane," Platini pointed out in quotes published by Marca.

"He is an excellent player, very good. I would vote for him, results are the only objective thing and everything else is subjective. You can have your opinion of Griezmann, Mbappe, Giroud, Lloris, Modric...but the only player to have won everything is Raphael Varane.

"Let's not forget that in 2006 it was a defender, Fabio Cannavaro that won the Ballon d'Or."

Cannavaro was Italy's World Cup winning captain the year he won and still remains the last defender to be honoured with world football's top individual prize.

In total there are eight of Real Madrid's Champions League winning team on the Ballon d'Or shortlist, including Sergio Ramos, Isco and Marcelo. Meanwhile, there are six players who won the World Cup with France.

Varane is the only one with a foot in both camps and a hand on both trophies.