Ballon d'Or winner for 2018, Luka Modric, has named former Barcelona stars, Xavi Hernendez and Andrie Iniesta as players who deserved to win the award but were ignored.
The Real Madrid and Croatian midfielder claimed the men's award ahead of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on Monday night
The 2018 World Cup finalist, who ended a 10-year duopoly of Ronaldo and Messi on the award, thanked the voters for looking away from the two players this time.
Reacting to being named Footballer of the Year, Modric said, "It is difficult to express my emotion and how I feel in words.
"It is something unique for me. It was very special tonight.
"It was the most important people in my life - most of them, some of them were missing - but I am so happy to share this moment with them.
"Maybe in the past there are some players who could have won the Ballon d'Or like Xavi or Andres Iniesta but people finally now are looking at someone else.
"This award is for all the players who probably deserved to win it and didn't."
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