Pascal Ferré, the former editor-in-chief of France Football, has revealed emotional details about the moment he informed Croatian star Luka Modric that he had won the 2018 Ballon d’Or.
According to Ferré, Modric was unable to answer the first phone call because he was overwhelmed by emotion after realizing that the call could be connected to the prestigious individual award.
Ferré discussed the story during a radio appearance following the release of his new book, “The Hidden Side of the Ballon d’Or,” which explores various behind-the-scenes stories surrounding the award that was first introduced in 1956.
How Did Luka Modric Receive the Ballon d’Or News?
Luka Modric won the 2018 Ballon d’Or following an exceptional year with Real Madrid and Croatia.
He helped Real Madrid win the UEFA Champions League and played a central role as Croatia reached the 2018 FIFA World Cup final.
Modric finished ahead of several leading candidates in the voting, including French stars Antoine Griezmann, Raphael Varane and Kylian Mbappe.
The Phone Call Before the Ceremony
Ferré explained that he contacted leading candidates before the official announcement to discuss preparations for the ceremony and interviews involving the eventual winner.
Around two weeks before the ceremony, Ferré called Modric to officially inform him that he had won the Ballon d’Or.
However, Modric did not answer the initial call.
Around five or six minutes later, the Croatian midfielder returned the call, and Ferré delivered the news by welcoming him to the Ballon d’Or family.
The silence that followed suggested to Ferré that Modric was deeply moved by the announcement.
Modric Initially Asked If the News Was Real
According to Ferré’s account, Modric remained emotional before asking whether the news was actually true.
The Croatian star then asked Ferré not to discuss the information publicly and wanted to know whether he could tell his wife about the achievement.
The exchange reflected the significance of the moment for Modric, who was about to add one of the most prestigious individual honors in football to his career.
Why Did Modric Miss the First Call?
Several days after the phone conversation, Ferré met Modric in Madrid.
During their meeting, the Croatian explained why he had not answered the initial call.
Modric said that he had seen Ferré’s number appear on his phone and understood that the call was likely connected to the Ballon d’Or announcement.
However, he was too emotional to answer immediately.
The midfielder explained that he needed several minutes to process what was happening before calling Ferré back.
Pascal Ferré Also Discusses Franck Ribery’s 2013 Campaign
Ferré also discussed the 2013 Ballon d’Or race, when French winger Franck Ribery finished third behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Ribery had enjoyed an outstanding season with Bayern Munich, but Ronaldo ultimately won the award.
How the Voting System Affected Ribery
Ferré explained that the voting system in place at the time played a role in determining the final result.
According to his account, Ribery had a significant lead in the journalists’ voting, but votes from national team coaches and captains affected the final standings.
Ferré said that Ribery would have won under the traditional voting system at the time, arguing that the distribution of votes had a direct impact on the outcome of the race.
When did Luka Modric win the Ballon d’Or?
Luka Modric won the Ballon d’Or in 2018.
Why did Modric miss the first phone call?
According to Pascal Ferré, Modric saw the caller’s number and understood that the call could contain news about the Ballon d’Or, but he was too emotional to answer immediately.
Who competed with Modric for the 2018 Ballon d’Or?
Modric finished ahead of players including Antoine Griezmann, Raphael Varane and Kylian Mbappe.
What did Modric achieve in 2018?
He helped Real Madrid win the UEFA Champions League and guided Croatia to the 2018 FIFA World Cup final.
What did Ferré say about Franck Ribery?
Ferré discussed the influence of the voting system on the 2013 result, noting Ribery’s strong performance among journalists and the impact of votes from coaches and captains.
