Modric criticises Ronaldo and Messi for Ballon d'Or no show
"It seems these votes and awards are only significant when they win it"
Luka Modric was not impressed that the two people who have dominated the Ballon d'Or over the last decade, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, were not present at the ceremony to see him win the award this year.
The Real Madrid midfielder complained about the duo's absence in an interview with Croatian newspaper Sportske Novosti.
"I don't know why they didn't turn up at [the] award ceremony, it's their choice," he said. "It doesn't make sense, does it? It seems these votes and awards are only significant when they win it.
"It's unfair to fellow players and voters who have nominated them in the past 10 years, as well as to football and the fans. However, people will act the way they think they ought to."
Modric continued: "In my opinion, things are very simple: Ronaldo and Messi are phenomena who have been dominant in the past 10 years or so. They've been in a league of their own.
"But we are talking about a season's accomplishments here and I guess it means something that votes by national team coaches, managers, football legends, journalists and fellow players have produced the same results.
"If the debate is going to be about how good a particular player is, the only course of action is to award all trophies to Messi and Ronaldo until they retire and scrap the voting."
Luka Modric, also chosen as the best player at the World Cup and FIFA's The Best, won the Ballon d'Or ahead of former teammate Ronaldo and Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann, a World Cup winner with France.
Barça star Messi finished fifth in the voting.
