A glimpse of the past: Modrić is once again eyeing the UEFA Best Player award. He describes his first coronation in his autobiography ‘My Game’

World champions Croatia are advancing to the next rounds of the European Championship, once again led by captain Luka Modrić with his passes and goals – an exclusive goal against Scotland. Whoever shines at the championship has a great chance of winning the UEFA Best Player poll, organised by the German magazine Kicker in cooperation with the European Football Union. The Croatian midfielder describes his first coronation in 2018 in his book ‘My Game’.

In 2018, Luka Modrić won what he could. With Real Madrid he conquered the Champions League, the Croatian national team won silver at the World Cup in Russia, when the valiant Dalmatians had to bow down only to the sovereign France.

And then came the individual honours. He was named the best player of the championship, which also almost secured him victory in the UEFA’s Best Player journalist poll, organised by the German magazine Kicker in conjunction with the European Football Union, to judge the year.

And the 2017/2018 one was particularly polished for Modric. He has rightly become the European football king.

“In the company of Keylor Navas and Sergio Ramos, I went to Monaco, where the UEFA Footballer of the Year awards were held. Keylor was voted the best goalkeeper of the season, Sergio the best defender and I won the award for best midfielder. I was also nominated for the best footballer of the year award. It was a nice feeling to arrive at the awards and walk the red carpet.

I bumped into David Beckham and his wife Victoria and we had quite a laugh. He always struck me as a cool guy, open and direct. I spotted Mo Salah from Liverpool in the hall, we were sitting nearby. At the same time, I also noticed that Cristiano Ronaldo had not arrived. He was nominated for best footballer along with Salah and myself, but he should have been here because he won the award for best striker.

When UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin read out my name in the best footballer category, it upset me more than I expected. I had relaxed a little before, but winning this recognition made me shake again. My knees were literally shaking as I walked up to the podium.

It was my first such award and I was definitely not used to playing the lead role. It meant I had to give a speech. I have to be honest and admit that speeches have never been my cup of tea, let alone in front of so many football celebrities who had descended on Monaco. Among them was a Real delegation led by Real president and club legends Emilio Butragueño and Roberto Carlos.

On occasions like this, Real never fail to show how much it cares about its players. Ronaldo did not turn up, sparking criticism in the media. Personally, I was not bothered by his absence, although I feel he should have taken the award for best striker. The next day he sent me a message congratulating me.”

Who will be the biggest personality of the ongoing European Championship this year can think of winning the prestigious poll. Although the ceremony will not take place in Monaco, but will be hosted by Istanbul, Turkey.

Can Modric build on an amazing 2018?

Not only these experiences are presented in the autobiography ‘My Game’, published by the publishing house Práh.