Ibrahimovic delighted that Luka Modric is awarded with the 2018 Golden Ball

Zlatan Ibrahimovic revealed his joy and mild surprise at seeing Real Madrid's "full" midfielder Luka Modric, who has been individualized several times in 2018.

The former Modric teammate in Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo, had largely attracted attention at Santiago Bernabeu in previous seasons, but Modric was influential in the team's third consecutive Champions League. and then inspired Croatia at the World Cup.

The former Tottenham player has been rewarded with the 2018 Russia Gold Ball, as well as by the UEFA year player.

This earned him the coveted Gold Ball, won by Ronaldo or his great rival Lionel Messi in each of the previous 10 years.

Ronaldo finished runner up at Modric in 2018, with Messi finishing fifth in the final round since Modric became the first player, except for those two, to win the award from Kaka.

And LA Galaxy star Ibrahimovic, who finished fourth at the Golden Ball in 2013 while he was with Paris Saint-Germain, was encouraged to see a different name recognized, but also to a player in a different position winning a prize that often goes to the big scorers.

"I think [Modric] Ibrahimovic told DAZN: "He has a fantastic pace, he has an incredible vision of the game, he is one of the most complete circles in the world." The manipulation of the ball is incredible.

"I played against him very young, when he was young.He is now an experienced player and I am happy that he won the Golden Ball, the best FIFA player at the World Cup, all these things, because it is not often that a player like this gets this credit.

"Normally, he's an attacker or someone who's been" wow. "But this year, let's say last year, was his year, I'm glad he won. . "

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Ibrahimovic also had another personal reason why he was happy Modric won the award.

"Me and my mother being from Croatia, he's Croatian, so I'm happy, that's part of the blood."