Modric wins Golden Ball

Croatia midfielder Luka Modric has been awarded the Golden Ball after being voted as the best player at the World Cup.

Modric, who scored two goals and was crucial to Croatia’s three come-from-behind wins in the knockout stages, embraced Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic after being given the award in a rainy ceremony after his team lost the final 4-2 to France.

England’s Harry Kane won the Golden Boot for top scorer with six goals. Of those, three were penalties and two came shortly after corner kicks.

France teenager Kylian Mbappe was voted young player of the tournament, while Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois was named best goalkeeper. Belgium finished as the World Cup’s highest-scoring team with 16 goals from 10 different players.

French players receive winners’ medals

The French players have received their winners’ medals and danced in the rain with the World Cup after beating Croatia in the final in Moscow.

The players, some with the national flag draped over their heads or shoulders and others with the tricolor wrapped around their waists, shook hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin, their own president Emmanuel Macron and Croatian leader Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic during a heavy downpour at Luzhniki Stadium.

The presidents of France and Croatia, who were saturated on the podium, pretended to grab the World Cup trophy from FIFA President Gianni Infantino before he handed it to the players. As soon as he did, the fireworks started golden glitter exploded all over the players.