Ballon d'Or 2025: Real Madrid legend Luka Modric tipped to win prize for second time ahead of Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele
Published 04/07/2025 at 12:49 GMT+1
Could Luka Modric win this year's Ballon d'Or, ahead of Lamine Yamal, Ousmane Dembele and Mohamed Salah? At 39, Modric has played a peripheral role at Real Madrid this term, and will leave the club upon the conclusion of the FIFA Club World Cup. The Croatian is widely reported to be joining Serie A side AC Milan. The Ballon d'Or ceremony takes place in September in Paris.
Ancelotti hails 39-year-old Modric as ‘example’ for younger players
Video credit: SNTV
Luka Modric should win this year's Ballon d’Or, believes his former Real Madrid assistant coach Davide Ancelotti.
Lamine Yamal, Ousmane Dembele and Mohamed Salah are expected to be in contention for the Ballon d’Or, with the winner set to be announced at a ceremony in Paris in September.
But Ancelotti, who left his role in the Real Madrid backroom staff at the end of the Liga season upon his father Carlo’s departure as manager, has said Modric is deserving of the award.
Modric, the winner of the 2018 Ballon d’Or, made 57 appearances for Los Blancos last term, predominantly from the bench.
At 39, the Croatian has taken up a peripheral role at Madrid, and is leaving the Liga giants upon the conclusion of the FIFA Club World Cup. It has been widely reported he will join AC Milan.
Yet Ancelotti insisted Modric should still receive recognition as the world’s best player.
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Luka Modric
Image credit: Getty Images
When asked who he believes should take home the Ballon d’Or this year, Ancelotti told Radiostadio Noche: "This year? Luka Modric."
On Modric's impending exit from Madrid, Ancelotti added: "I don’t want to talk about the club’s decisions.
"Luka still has a lot of football to give. It’s true football is changing but Luka plays with his head, he can play as long as he wants."
Modric will leave Madrid having won six UEFA Champions League crowns and four La Liga trophies, amongst a spate of other honours.
Announcing his departure from the club in May, he said: "Playing at Real Madrid changed my life as a soccer player and as a person.
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"I feel proud to have been part of one of the most successful eras of the best club in history.
"I want to thank the club from the bottom of my heart, especially the president Florentino Perez, my team-mates, coaches and all the people who have helped me during all this time.
"Throughout these years I've experienced incredible moments, comebacks that seemed impossible, finals, celebrations and magical nights at the Bernabeu... We won everything and I was very happy. Very, very happy."
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