Welcome to #Euro2016Rank, a weeklong look at the top 25 players we expect to see at the European Championship. Over 50 ESPN FC experts and writers from across the globe voted, and we're rolling out the results right up to opening day, when France plays Romania on June 10.
Why is Luka Modric in the top 25?
Since rising to prominence in Croatia's qualification campaign and subsequent run to the quarterfinals of Euro 2008, the frail-looking playmaker has been hailed across the continent. It took Tottenham Hotspur three years to recover from his £30 million sale in the summer of 2012 to Real Madrid, and in the white-hot pressure of the Santiago Bernabeu, a place that spits out failed creative midfielders, he has become an idol, someone who makes the team tick with his range of passing. He possesses a determination and grit that belie his shy personality and slight frame.
What the experts say about Modric:
"He is a great footballer and has a massive heart. He never shirks receiving the ball; he's a top, top player." -- former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, January 2009.
"Luka is a star even without this tournament, I keep saying to him every day that he is the best player in Europe, but he is not the only great player on our team." -- Croatia manager Slaven Bilic during Modric's Euro 2008 breakthrough.
Career highlight:
While he won the 2014 Champions League final with Real in Lisbon, the memory of his performances in Austria and Switzerland at Euro 2008 continue to stand out.
Stat of the season:
Modric completed 33 of his 34 attempted passes (97 percent) in Real's 2-1 win at Barcelona in April 2016, posting the highest percentage of any player in that game (via Opta).
What next for Modric after Euro 2016?
As a player who is among Real president Florentino Perez's favourites, he would be expected to stay in Madrid, though his contract is up in 2018, which may alert suitors.
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