2. Luka Modric
Honestly, there really is not much between Luka Modric and Toni Kroos and it may feel unfair to put one above the other. The two have been so closely associated in Madrid’s midfield with skillsets so complimentary that they seem to be parts of each other. Modric wins the duel for his longevity and a shiny golden ball he managed to win in 2018.
Modric is a perfect example of a midfielder who doesn’t score or assist a lot but is still crucial to the team’s performance. He is the master of slowing games down, dictating control of the game, and being the connective tissue to link everything up. He is the perfect number 8-10 hybrid who can deceive opponents into thinking he’s slowing the game down and then produce a killer pass or shot to stun the entire stadium.
And then there’s his ability to keep performing at the age of 39. He continues to be a crucial player for Ancelotti’s current crop of players. Judging by the rate at which he continues to go, he may never retire. The first-choice captain of the Whites, Modric is just having fun playing in the white jersey and winning trophies – one after another. He currently has 28 major titles in white, and looks set to win a few more before he hangs up his boots.