Luka Modric has insisted Lionel Messi “is the best player in history” and deserves to win the World Cup.
Modric still felt cheated by what he called a “disastrous” refereeing display as he looks set to retire from international football after this tournament. But the Croatia star, 37, was still gracious enough to claim that he wants Messi to win the trophy in Sunday’s final and said Argentina deserved their win.
Modric said: “Hopefully (Messi) wins this World Cup, he is the best player in history and he deserves it. I want to congratulate Argentina, I don’t want to take credit away from them. They deserve to be in the final. But that first penalty wasn’t a penalty and it destroyed us.”