After ending Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's 10-year reign of the Ballon d'Or, Luka Modric has now spoken out against the duo's failure to attend the prestigious awards gala.
Read: Final 2018 Ballon d'Or Ranking Revealed, Messi Only Fifth
The Croatian completed his awards hat-trick for 2018 after being named UEFA's Player of the Year and FIFA's The Best Men's Player, and lifting the famous Golden Ball.
Modric became the first player other than Ronaldo or Messi to claim the Ballon d'Or since Kaka won it in 2007, but neither of his predecessors were present at the awards gala.
The 33-year-old Los Blancos star has now criticised the duo for snubbing the event, saying they disrespected their colleagues and the voters in doing so.
"I cannot say why someone did not attend – that's their choice," Modric told Sportske Novosti.
"That is logical, is it not? It turns out these choices and trophies only have value when they get them.
"It is not fair to their playing colleagues, or to the voters who have nominated them for the past 10 years – nor for football or supporters.
"But, I repeat, everyone behaves the way they think they need to."
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Do you think Modric is right in slamming Ronaldo and Messi for their absence from the latest Ballon d'Or awards gala? Have your say in the comments section below.
