Sports

Eden Hazard: Luka Modric deserves to win 2018 Ballon dOr

228

epa07085908 Belgium's player Eden Hazard speaks during a press conference at the Football Centre in Tubize, Brussels, Belgium, 11 October 2018. Belgium will face Switzerland in their UEFA Nations League soccer match on 12 October 2018. EPA/ENNIO LEANZA — Hazard does not expect to win the Ballon dOr this year (Picture: EPA)

Eden Hazard claims Luka Modric will win the 2018 Ballon dOr to cap off a wonderful year with Real Madrid.

Modric is one of 30 players to be nominated for the prestigious award, with serial winners Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo also in the running.

Hazard too made the 30-man shortlist in the midst of a superb run of form for his club.

More: Football

And the 27-year-old thinks he deserves the award, but thinks Modric will get the nod.

I dont think Im going to win it, Hazard said ahead of Belgiums game against Switzerland.

In my opinion, Modric deserves it. There are three to four players. I would say (Raphael) Varane because he won a lot too. I could deserve it too, lets not lie.

But seriously I think that Modric will win it. It is going to be a reward for his wonderful season in the Champions League and the final of the World Cup.

Advertisement Advertisement

Hazard and Modric may soon play together at club level with the former repeatedly linked with a switch to Madrid.

Real tried to sign Hazard during the summer, but had to back off when it became clear Chelsea would not sell both their star attacker and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to the La Liga side.