Mario Mandzukic says Croatia teammate Luka Modric deserves to be a front-runner for Russia 2018’s Golden Ball.
READ: Henderson hopeful over fitness for Croatia clash
Croatia captain Modric has been tipped to win the award for the best player at the World Cup, having featured prominently in his country’s run to the semi-finals.
England await in Wednesday’s last-four clash in Moscow, with the Real Madrid midfielder coming up against a number of his former Premier League rivals from his time at Tottenham Hotspur.
Mandzukic says Modric deserves to be in contention for the Golden Ball, which Lionel Messi won in 2014.
READ MORE: WC win would be crazier than 1966 triumph – Southgate
‘I’ve known Luka for a number of years, not only from the national team,’ Mandzukic told reporters.
‘He deserves all the accolades he gets, from the media and public.
‘He’s worked very hard to get to this point, he’s our captain and leader and if the team manages a great result and he gets the Golden Ball, he would deserve it.’
READ MORE: Lukaku, Hazard, De Bruyne in Team of the Quarter-Finals