Sports Tak Staff
December 13, 2022
Luka Modric will make his 161st Croatia appearance and in the words of Argentina's manager Lionel Scaloni 'it's such a pleasure to see Modric play'.
Modric won the Golden Ball at the Russia World Cup in 2018 for his efforts in taking Croatia to their first final.
This time too, Modric is in contention to win the best player award and Croatia sneaks into the final, the 37-year-old might win back-to-back Golden Balls.
He has made the most World Cup appearances (17) of any Croatian player and has started all five of their games in Qatar.
His carry distance of 1,455 metres ranks second out of midfielders at the tournament, only behind Spain's Rodri.
Modric has won seven of his 12 attempted tackles, and 26 of his 58 duels, completing 330 of 373 passes (88.5 per cent).
Against Brazil, he completed the most passes and had the most touches of anyone on the pitch.
Like Messi, this is surely Modric's World Cup swansong, but his excellence cannot be overlooked either.