Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder Luka Modric has won the Golden Ball award for the World Cup’s best player.
Modric’s performances during Croatia’s run to a first-ever World Cup Final were recognised by FIFA’s five-man Technical Study Group, although his country lost 4-2 to France on Sunday in Moscow.
It means only one of the accolade’s last eight recipients lifted the trophy with their respective nations.
Elsewhere, Chelsea attacker Eden Hazard’s scooped up the Silver Ball for helping Belgium into third place and Antoine Griezmann – a goalscorer in the Final – claimed the Bronze equivalent.
Paris Saint-Germain’s French forward Kylian Mbappe won the award for the Best Young Player and Belgium No 1 Thibaut Courtois – recently linked with Madrid – took home the Golden Glove for best goalkeeper.
Finally, Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane held on to the Golden Boot for his six goals en route to the semi-finals with England.
