Modric criticises Ballon d’Or gala snub by Messi, Ronaldo

Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric has criticised Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for choosing not to attend this month’s ceremony where he was given the award, saying their decision was unfair to fellow players and voters.

Croatian captain Modric, who broke Messi and Ronaldo’s decade-long stranglehold on the prestigious prize last month, said in a newspaper interview yesterday the pair’s absence from the gala in Paris on Dec. 3 did not make sense.

“I cannot speak about why someone didn’t turn up at an award ceremony, it’s their choice. It doesn’t make sense, does it? It seems these votes and awards are only significant when they win,” the Real Madrid midfielder told Croatian newspaper Sportske Novosti.