Summary: PARIS — Luka Modric ended the long reign of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo by winning the Ballon d’Or for the first time Monday. Modric won the Champions League with Real Madrid and then guided Croatia to the World Cup final in July. The midfielder was voted player of the tournament. Messi and Ronaldo had won every Ballon d’Or since 2008, and usually competed with only each other for the greatest recognition among soccer’s elite. “As a kid, we all have dreams.
