So where is Modric rated in best CM’s of all time ?

Longlivekeano said:
Modric probably ranks alongside other top, top CMs like Lotthar Mattheus (West Germany/Inter Milan and Bayern Munich), Patrick Viera (France/Arsenal)

But Modric falls outside of legendary, world class midfielders of Zidane, Platini
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Neither Zidane or Platini were strictly midfielders and Mathaus was better than both of them and way better than Viera.

Modric is right up there with the best, 37 and still running games in the CL and the world cup with ease. He can still run, he's got the brains, to be still doing all that at his age at the very top level is insane.
 
For me the very best have to have longevity, Modric has bossed it for years now and at a club like Madrid is insane. I don't think he was ever brought in as a 'galactic' but he's turned out to be exactly that.

Up there as one of the very best in the last 15 years.
 
If you put any other midfielder from his generation in his spot in the Croatian team, do they reach a WC final and a WC third place? I don't think so.
 
For me he is easily in the top 5. Very hard to pick the best because there are so many roles in the midfield. Absolutely insane player though. Understands football like few ever do and has obscene amounts of skill to go with it.
 
Longlivekeano said:
Modric probably ranks alongside other top, top CMs like Lotthar Mattheus (West Germany/Inter Milan and Bayern Munich), Patrick Viera (France/Arsenal)

But Modric falls outside of legendary, world class midfielders of Zidane, Platini
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Viera is nowhere near him.

I'd put Modric second tier behind a handful of players like Mathaus, Rijkaard and Xavi.
 
mikeyt said:
For me the very best have to have longevity, Modric has bossed it for years now and at a club like Madrid is insane. I don't think he was ever brought in as a 'galactic' but he's turned out to be exactly that.

Up there as one of the very best in the last 15 years.
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Agree.

Imo to be up there with the best of the best you have to have:
- consistency
- longevity
- shined in the most crucial moments like against the other best in a quarter, semi or finals of the biggest, the most prestigious cup like the CL, WC or Euro.

Modric ticked all the boxes. He's up there with Scholes, Xavi, Pirlo, Iniesta. And that's why I don't see the likes of KDB belongs there (yet).
 
11101 said:
I'd put Modric second tier behind a handful of players like Mathaus, Rijkaard and Xavi.
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I think he is in that tier. Then we can discuss who is better than who and such, but he's up there.
 
The best midfielder of this century for me and certainly one of the most complete midfielder of all time.

I have him above other greats of this era like Xavi, Pirlo, Iniesta, Scholes, etc. because he has more dimensions to his game. He can do what these players did when it comes to press resistance, controlling games, passing, vision, creativity, etc. (this is arguable of course but the difference in quality would remain marginal), but he's on a completely different level when it comes to athleticism. His amazing speed and insane cardio, precisely, have allowed him to be very comfortable carrying the ball forward, effortlessly run past players and be a great defensive asset, all the way through extra-time if needed. He has done this his whole career and can still do it at 36-37. Xavi was good defensively, essentially thanks to an excellent spatial awareness and positioning, but he couldn't dribble. Iniesta was a fantastic dribbler, especially in tight spaces, but he was poor defensively.
This mix of technical brilliance and elite athleticism is almost unheard of for CM's and that's what sets him apart. It also makes him adaptable to any tactical systems and effective in any types of games, be they well-structured or disjointed ones where the tactic goes out the window.
His longevity is also unmatched amongst midfielders, and personally, I find him more aesthetically pleasing than the names I mentionned, except maybe for Iniesta.

The only midfielders from this century I could consider better than Modric would be Zidane and Ronaldinho, but they weren't CM's and Ronaldinho didn't stay at the top very long.
 
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Different gravy. Up there with the best of the best. Zidane modric iniesta those guys have ruled the CL era. Before that Keane matteus. He would be in a top ten and considering you’ve literally got a million players to pick from that’s some going.
 
Zidane, Xavi, Iniesta, Matthaus, Gullit will always be my top 5. After that we can start talking about others.
 
Hackman2210 said:
Different gravy. Up there with the best of the best. Zidane modric iniesta those guys have ruled the CL era. Before that Keane matteus. He would be in a top ten and considering you’ve literally got a million players to pick from that’s some going.
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I loved Zidane, he was one of my favorites but his ck record was underwhelming to say the least, wouldn't call it domination.
 
He's one of the best ever.

He doesn't have a weakness. He can run all day, he can pass like the best, he can score goals, he isn't weak defensively, he can dictate games, he turns up for big matches.

He's just the perfect midfielder.
 
Xavi is a level above Modric.

You can probably put Modric in the same tier as Iniesta though. I'd still pick Iniesta over him however.

His longevity is amazing.
 
Strelok said:
Agree.

Imo to be up there with the best of the best you have to have:
- consistency
- longevity
- shined in the most crucial moments like against the other best in a quarter, semi or finals of the biggest, the most prestigious cup like the CL, WC or Euro.

Modric ticked all the boxes. He's up there with Scholes, Xavi, Pirlo, Iniesta. And that's why I don't see the likes of KDB belongs there (yet).
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Honestly Scholes doesn't belong with that group despite how much he's adored on here.
 
Surpassed Xavi ?

Modric
Xavi
Iniesta
Kroos
Busquets
Pirlo
Schweinsteiger
Scholes
Fabregas
 
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It’s insane to think that he was still playing for Spurs at the age of 26!
 
FrankDrebin said:
Surpassed Xavi ?
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Don't see how to be honest.

I compared the two a while ago:

Both of them have great engines. Modric probably shading it for being able to still have a good engine at the latter part of his career. Modric is a better ball carrier. He's arguably the best ever from central midfield or up there with anyone.

Xavi's passing is superior to Modric's in every aspect. He has a better controlled short passing game. He has a better pass switching play from 1 flank to another. He is better at incisive passes that break the lines through midfield and even for passes that take out a defensive line. His end product from passes is better as well. He had 30 assists in 1 season from central midfield. I don't think anyone in football history could manage that. Xavi's better from set pieces and can even 'ping' in a ball better than Modric if we're talking about crossing too.

Both of them are supreme at being press-resistant, but I think Xavi's conduction with the ball in congested areas is better. He's better at pirouetting in place than Modric is too with his famous 'La Pelopina' and is IMO the most press-resistant midfielder ever.

Xavi is just a better player than Modric is. Modric has greater longevity, but Xavi's fairly underrated pre-Pep and he was the MOTM at the 2008 Euros without Pep.

Xavi spearheaded the most dominant NT in the 'modern' era and the most dominant club side ever arguably.

It's not a surprise that Spain have completely tapered off coinciding with his decline and even Barcelona(even with MSN) never dominated in midfield as they did with Xavi at the helm.

And while I'm a fan of Modric, this thread never gets bumped when he has a poor game.
 
Up there with the best of the best without a shadow of a doubt.

Insanely, consistently great at all levels for what seems like forever now.
 
Matthäus is still the goat of central midfielders.

Modric and Xavi is right below him.

Then you have a long list of players who are a tier below them
 
Annihilate Now! said:
Not for me, maybe I'm a bit blinded as I see it more as a Xavi/Iniesta combo... but I don't see how Xavi alone drives them forward like Modric
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You are possibly a bit blinded. Also Euro 2008 was way more Xavi. Also, it's not like Modric has played with scrubs in midfield his entire career.
 
adexkola said:
You are possibly a bit blinded. Also Euro 2008 was way more Xavi. Also, it's not like Modric has played with scrubs in midfield his entire career.
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Marcos Senna was the best Spanish player of Euro 2008. Not a dish to Xavi who did great, but Senna was better. The most important player of the team.
 
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If it's between Xavi and Modric:

Longevity: no comparison. Xavi was done by 34 like most modern all-time great CM's. Modric will turn 38 this year and will probably extend with Madrid.

Athleticism: a mismatch. You put both on a running track and Modric would completely dominate Xavi on all distances from 100m to 10.000m. He would beat him in jump events too. This is reflected by their style of play and yes, it does matter, just ask Enzo Fernandez. Imagine Xavi and Pirlo in the same situation. Peak Modric keeps up with Adeyemi and no goal is scored.

Trophies: close call on club football. Xavi has won more domestic titles, Modric more UCLs. International trophies, obviously Xavi, but a WC final and 3rd place finish (and thus making history) with Croatia is almost as impressive as Spain's run between 2008 and 2012.

Individual awards: comparable although Modric's Ballon d'Or and World Cup best player award should give him the edge.

Aesthetics: this is very subjective but Modric by far for me. Way faster than Xavi, lighter on his feet, run past the opposition with ease, master of the trivela passes. Modric is just beautful to watch, he's a workhorse and an artist at the same time. Xavi is more basic and a little bit robotic. I'd rather watch Pirlo or Iniesta.

As far who is the better actual central midfielder when it comes to all the things a player is supposed to do in this position, this is once again very subjective. But I'm going for the more multi-dimensional player and that is Modrid. If I'm a club owner and I can buy any midfielder but I have no coach and no players yet. I'm taking Modric because he can play in any system that exists whereas Xavi's lack of athleticism could be exposed in systems where you don't have the possession.
 
Marvin look out said:
If it's between Xavi and Modric:

Longevity: no comparison. Xavi was done by 34 like most modern all-time great CM's. Modric will turn 38 this year and will probably extend with Madrid.

Athleticism: a mismatch. You put both on a running track and Modric would completely dominate Xavi on all distances from 100m to 10.000m. He would beat him in jump events too. This is reflected by their style of play and yes, it does matter, just ask Enzo Fernandez. Imagine Xavi and Pirlo in the same situation. Peak Modric keeps up with Adeyemi and no goal is scored.

Trophies: close call on club football. Xavi has won more domestic titles, Modric more UCLs. International trophies, obviously Xavi, but a WC final and 3rd place finish (and thus making history) with Croatia is almost as impressive as Spain's run between 2008 and 2012.

Individual awards: comparable although Modric's Ballon d'Or and World Cup best player award should give him the edge.

Aesthetics: this is very subjective but Modric by far for me. Way faster than Xavi, lighter on his feet, run past the opposition with ease, master of the trivela passes. Modric is just beautful to watch, he's a workhorse and an artist at the same time. Xavi is more basic and a little bit robotic. I'd rather watch Pirlo or Iniesta.

As far who is the better actual central midfielder when it comes to all the things a player is supposed to do in this position, this is once again very subjective. But I'm going for the more multi-dimensional player and that is Modrid. If I'm a club owner and I can buy any midfielder but I have no coach and no players yet. I'm taking Modric because he can play in any system that exists whereas Xavi's lack of athleticism could be exposed in systems where you don't have the possession.
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We're discussing about central midfielders not wingers mate.
 
Fantastic how little space he needs to operate. When Liverpool were pressing hard last night he was taking the ball in tight positions, and then quick feet to find himself a metre of space where he knew he could deliver the ball and play them out of trouble. It's fantastic to watch on top of his speed and movement when he has bigger areas of the pitch to operate in. He's a complete midfielder.
 
I find it fascinating to witness the amount of times Xavi is denigrated to make a case for Modric. It's not at all necessary and actually does Modric a disservice.

Xavi is the best player who ever lived at doing the things he did - there's no shame or issue with that; it doesn't take away from others in comparison to him, but it is his niche that literally no other player can take away from him.

Modric has his own merits that stand up to scrutiny. He doesn't need to be artificially bolstered to make any case for him.
 
Fortitude said:
I find it fascinating to witness the amount of times Xavi is denigrated to make a case for Modric. It's not at all necessary and actually does Modric a disservice.

Xavi is the best player who ever lived at doing the things he did - there's no shame or issue with that; it doesn't take away from others in comparison to him, but it is his niche that literally no other player can take away from him.

Modric has his own merits that stand up to scrutiny. He doesn't need to be artificially bolstered to make any case for him.
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You've got a hard on for Xavi - who exploded into the scene at the age of 27-28 with the emergence of Messi, Iniesta and Busquets. Before that, his output was nothing to write home about. He wasn't particularly strong, fast, skillful in dribbling or getting into the box - he was a great system player that was born in a rondo with Iniesta/Busi/Messi/Alonso etc. Not taking anything from his brilliance, but he shone brightest in a particular system.

Feel Modric has more to his game on a technical level and versatility - not to mention longevity
 
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