It was at 17:30 CEST when Luka Modric appeared for Wednesday night’s awards ceremony in Madrid, where 16 children dressed in Real Madrid and Croatia national team shirts were waiting for him to walk him down the aisle.
A standing ovation was given to the Croatian, who minutes earlier had already brought Madrid’s Calle Alcala to a standstill when he entered through the majestic entrance of gate No.15, next to Puerta del Sol.