Football is more than just goals and assists: Real Madrid midfielder Modric

Modric has been a key player at Madrid for years.
The Croat says players who do the dirty work deserve credit too.

Speaking to AFP about his style of play, Luka Modric said: "People are always more focused on the players that score a lot of goals or make assists and if they're not watching matches they need time to notice the players who aren't doing those things."

"Like David Silva and in the past Xavi, Andres Iniesta. Without these kinds of players the team isn't functioning.

Over time the recognition comes. Sometimes people need time to see it. Eventually I won the Ballon d'Or and the Player of the Year. In the end, people noticed."

Modric led the Croatia national team to the 2018 World Cup final, winning the Ballon d'Or and the UEFA Player of the Year award in the following months.

The 35-year-old reportedly wants to stay at Real Madrid for two more years before eventually hanging up his boots at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2022.