2018 Ballon d'Or

High school (ages 12+)
Sports & Games

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/2018-ballon-d-or

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the award ceremony year?2018
2. What is the ballon d'or recipient?Luka Modrić
3. Who won the 2018 Ballon d'Or?Luka Modrić, the Croatian midfielder, won the 2018 Ballon d'Or. It was the first time in many years that the award went to someone other than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.
4. Why was the 2018 Ballon d'Or special?2018 ended a ten‑year streak where only Messi and Ronaldo had won. It also added new awards for women and young players, showing more people could be recognized.

Duopoly: A situation where two dominant entities control a market or, in this case, an award.
Midfielder: A player positioned between the defenders and forwards, crucial for controlling the game's flow.
UEFA Champions League: Europe's premier club football competition, featuring the continent's top teams.