Modric or Mbappe – The M&M duel for the Golden Ball

“No one would be happier than me if he were elected,” says Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic about his tireless driver and brilliant ball distributor Modric. “When he says he wants to win trophies, it’s not a boast. He wants it because he has the talent and the right to say it,” emphasizes Mbappe’s French teammate Paul Pogba.

Four years ago, Argentina's Messi was voted the best player at the World Cup despite losing the final against Germany. This time, Messi said goodbye in the round of 16 against France - including after two goals from Mbappe. For Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, the World Cup was over on the same day. Their shared era as world footballers over the past ten years - both won the title five times each - is likely to be over for now.

Is the time of superstars like Lionel Messi in football over? The World Cup in Russia gave signs of this. © APA/afp / MLADEN ANTONOV

Belgium's Eden Hazard, England's Harry Kane, who has the best chance of winning the Golden Boot as the top scorer with six goals - they were good, but probably not good enough for the Golden Ball. The two will play for third place on Saturday in St. Petersburg against each other. In addition to some sporting feats, Brazil's Neymar was particularly notable for his great acting talent and pronounced self-dramatization.

Only Modric and Mbappe remain. Unless someone like Mbappe's partner Antoine Griezmann shoots France to their second title after 1998. Golden ball, “I don't care one bit about that. I want to win the World Cup,” Griezmann said on Friday. The best midfielder against the world star of the future This time creativity will probably be required. “Luka Modric is one of the best midfielders in this tournament. Some say the best,” says Croatia coach Dalic. Not to forget: Three weeks before the start of the World Cup, Modric also won the Champions League with Real Madrid for the third time in a row and for the fourth time overall. The best midfielder of the World Cup: Luka Modric. © APA/afp / FRANCK FIFE

Quite a few believe Mbappe will become one of the greatest of all. In 2017 he won the French championship with AS Monaco against the star team of Paris Saint-Germain, after which PSG got the jewel for 180 million euros. The media already estimated his market value during the World Cup at 400 million. With Zinedine Zidane, France initially had the best World Cup player. In 2006 he was elected to the final despite the head-butting scandal. Superstar of the future: Kylian Mbappe. © APA/afp / CHRISTOPHE SIMON

The decision on the Golden Ball will be made on Sunday in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow and will be chosen by FIFA's Technical Study Group - led by former Brazilian national coach Carlos Alberto Parreira.

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Modric or Mbappe – The M&M duel for the Golden Ball

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