- Luka Modric helped Real Madrid win a third consecutive UEFA Champions League title
- The midfielder emerged summer World Cup runner-up with Croatia alongside Ivan Rakitic this year
- Modric was awarded the World Cup Golden Ball and has been nominated for FIFA's Best award
Croatia and Barcelona ace Ivan Rakitic believes Argentina captain and teammate Lionel Messi is the 'best player' but was quick to add that his countryman Luka Modric 'deserves all the awards' in 2018.
Speaking during the pre-match press conference ahead of Croatia's Nations League match against Spain, the Barcelona midfielder took out time to reel out Modric’s credentials in the current year.
At the last count, the Los Blancos star helped the Spanish giants claim their third consecutive Champions League in May as well as a runner-up medal at the summer World Cup in Russia, alongside Rakitic.
Rakitic backs Modric to claim FIFA Best award ahead of other contenders.
Source: Getty Images
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The highly-talented midfielder was awarded UEFA Men's Player of the Year award alongside the World Cup Golden Ball, and is also in the running for FIFA's The Best awards where he will square up against Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah.
“There are seasons that you can be better or not,” Rakitic said in an attempt, to explain why compatriot, Modric should claim the FIFA award which is the last of 2018.
“For me in general the best player of the world and maybe the greatest of all time is Leo Messi. It's easy, you take a boy, and nine of 10 boys are going to say the same.
“But I think it was the year of Luka, sincerely, I think it's something that Leo and all the people know, he (Modric) deserves all the awards.
“Sincerely if he received the award of the best European player... I don't know what he has to do to be the best player of the world, with all he did.
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“I don't need to help him as a good friend of his as I am, he made everything on himself, nobody gave him anything. For me it's clear that it has to be Luka (for The Best award).”
Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously had reported that Real Madrid forward Marco Asensio was the main man on Tuesday night, September 11, as Spain’s La Roja hammered Croatia’s Blazers to claim their second consecutive victory from two matches in the UEFA Nations League.
The Los Blancos ace netted a fantastic goal, and was in the thick of the action that led to four other goals, that saw the Luis Enrique's tutored-side continue their winning run after dispatching England at Wembley on Sunday.
The encounter which started slowly at the Estadio Martinez Valero in Elche saw Saul Niguez hand Spain the lead with an amazing team crafted goal before the Galaticos forward took charge of the proceedings.
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Source: Naija.ng