The former Ballon d'Or winner believes there are now a number of contenders for a prestigious prize following an era of dominance by two superstars
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will continue to illuminate world football, admits Lothar Matthaus, but the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Eden Hazard are now serious contenders for future Ballons d’Or.
Having shared 10 Golden Balls between them during an era of unrivalled dominance, leading figures at Barcelona and Juventus have been nudged down the global pecking order for the first time in a decade.
The 2018 Ballon d’Or is now in the hands of Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric, with the Croatia international having added that award to his FIFA Best gong and Goal 50 accolade.