IF YOU think Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are the only present-day players fighting for the mantle of GOAT — think again.

OK, so maybe Luka Modric isn’t realistically in the race to be crowned the Greatest Of All Time, but how about another type of GOAT? Greatest Of All Tournament, perhaps? Or just the best player in the world right now?

The Croatian captain is definitely the frontrunner in those categories, especially after he led his side to a 2-1 win over England in Thursday morning’s World Cup semi-final, continuing the outstanding form he’s shown in Russia.

Read: Croatia’s damning English accusation

Croatian fans have already tagged Modric the GOAT — and maybe it was no surprise he was a key contributor in his team’s victory over the Three Lions when you consider what’s on the Croatian flag.

As many on social media pointed out, Croatia’s flag includes an emblem of a goat facing three lions. On this occasion, the Croatian goat — or rather, GOAT — won the staredown.

The five individual coats of arms above the chequered shield on the flag each represents a province or town that formed Croatia, which became a republic in 1991 following the breakup of Yugoslavia. The three golden lions heads symbolise Dalmatia while the goat represents Istria.

WHAT MAKES MODRIC SO SPECIAL

He won’t steal the limelight in the way Ronaldo and Messi do but Modric has every right to lay claim to being the best player in the world. The crafty midfielder has pulled the strings for Croatia in its drive to the World Cup final, where it will face France, and has been doing so for years.

The 32-year-old has more than 100 international caps and has been a mainstay at Spanish giant Real Madrid since 2012, when he made the move from English Premier League club Tottenham.

Modric is a creator and an architect rather than a goalscorer, which explains why he doesn’t command the same headlines as his high profile rivals. His work off the ball is just as impressive as what he does with it and he rarely wastes possession.

His ability to play a teammate into space with an inch-perfect through ball — like he did for Ante Rebic in the round of 16 against Denmark — combined with his willingness to do the tough stuff in the middle of the park and track back to help out his defenders is all part of the appeal that makes him the ultimate package.

During that win over Denmark, SBS football reporter Sebastian Hassett said Modric was “arguably the player of the tournament”. Against Russia in the quarter-finals he went up more than a few gears in the second half to make it obvious to everyone watching he was a cut above the rest of the players sharing the pitch with him.

Speaking after Croatia’s win on Thursday, former England international Chris Waddle lamented England’s lack of a creative midfielder in the Modric mould — someone who can play 360 degrees and provide something out of nothing.

“His vision, his know-how, when he gets the ball it always looks as if he’s got time,” Waddle told the BBC. “His range of passing, sometimes it comes first time under pressure, he switches the play first time (with a) cross-field pass without even looking.”

A fellow BBC pundit added: “The way Luka Modric ran the game in the second half and into extra time was a joy to watch.”

MODRIC MAKES A ‘MIRACLE’ POSSIBLE

Modric is short and slightly built, making him an unlikely pin-up boy for Croatia’s golden generation stacked with mature stars who are primed for a now-or-never tilt at football’s ultimate prize.

Writing for SBS, Ante Jukic said Modric’s standing in the sport is undeniable.

“Since Carlo Ancelotti took over at the Santiago Bernabéu (as Real Madrid coach), Modric has undoubtedly put daylight between himself and every other midfielder in the world — to the point where he should at least be in the conversation with Lionel Messi as the best footballer in the world, period,” Jukic said.

“The nature of his control is unprecedented. Instead of deciding matches with isolated moments, he has become football’s answer to a boa constrictor, strangling the opposition over the 90 minutes despite his diminutive frame.

“His movement, neat ball control, vision and ability to recover possession all contribute to the simultaneous application and relief of pressure in attack, along with short but explosive dribbles in confined space that either generate penetration or fouls — where other players would lose the ball.”

Former Argentine international Jorge Valdano has similarly high praise for Modric, again emphasising his ability to kill an opposition quietly rather than with outrageous acts of brilliance that fill the highlights reels.

“When the ball passes by his feet, the play flows as if football was the easiest thing in the world. It’s not about adding intensity or danger to the move; it’s about adding sense, clarity, intent,” Valdano wrote forThe Guardian. “At a World Cup at which it seems like spaces are disappearing … and everyone who gets the ball seems to be in a hurry, as if the entire pitch was penalty area, Modric performs the miracle of allowing the move to breathe, giving the ball the necessary speed, wherever it is on the field.

“Suddenly, we discover space and time do exist and that all that was needed was someone with the talent to bring them back, to make them what they always were.”

Valdano also raved about Modric’s defensive workrate and rightly so. It’s a trait his teammates no doubt appreciate but won’t catch the casual observer’s eye.

While Messi’s legacy will forever carry an asterisk should Argentina fail to win a World Cup with him leading the line, a Croatian triumph over France on Monday morning (AEST) will thrust Modric into the spotlight he so richly deserves but rarely attracts. And he will be a quiet achiever no longer.

A genius. A leader. A warrior. Luka Modric should absolutely win the Ballon d’Or. pic.twitter.com/sS9FLHwzOC — Kevin Egan (@kev_egan) July 11, 2018

Luka Modric is an absolutely unbelievable footballer. He is literally ridiculous. — Reev (@TheReevHD) July 11, 2018

Full congratulations to Croatia, they deserved to progress in the end. A special word to Ivan Perišić and Luka Modrić who never stopped running. Absolute monsters. World class players who gave their all for their country. — Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) July 11, 2018

Oh and Luka Modric will go down as one of the greatest midfielders of all time, absolutely outstanding. 👏#WorldCup — Al Foran (@ImpressionistAL) July 11, 2018

Luka Modric is easily player of tourno and IMO should win Ballon D’Or ..



He won’t - cos he doesn’t score goals - but he should regardless.



Luka = 👑 !?! — Jessica Fishlock (@JessFishlock) July 11, 2018

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