🏆 Ballon d'OneFootball: An icon in 23rd place ... | OneFootball

Welcome to the fourth annual edition of the Ballon d’OneFootball as we begin our countdown of the top 25 players in the world right now. Here’s an explainer how we decided on a top 25.

Here’s the list so far.

And today we have …

23rd: Luka Modrić, Real Madrid and Croatia

(New entry)

Modrić may now be 37 but shows no real signs of his advancing years affecting his performances. Quite the opposite.

The midfield magician continues to control games in that masterful way of his, effortlessly swaggering through the 90 minutes and displaying composure and quality in possession that few others in the modern game can match.

Real Madrid’s last season was a disappointing one by their own high standards but they still ended up with three trophies. An ageing and unfancied Croatia squad also surprised many by reaching another World Cup semi-final midway through the campaign.

Much of those achievements are down to the master in the centre of the park for both teams.

So appreciative are the footballing public of his talents that in the last year, he has received several standing ovations from opposing fans, who are aware that there may not be much time left to enjoy what he has to offer.

Espanyol and Celta supporters did so in LaLiga. Celtic Park and Anfield are both intimidating venues on European nights but the home fans inside each rose to their feet in appreciation after Modrić had masterminded heavy defeats for their sides.

Even at international level, the passionate Turkish support hailed his class in March before the home Dutch fans all applauded him off even after he had eliminated them in the Nations League semi-final this month.

Such respect offered in the modern game is rare indeed.

His masterclass against the Netherlands in that recent showdown set up a final with Spain (which Croatia narrowly lost on penalties in what was the midfielder’s 66th game of the campaign) and Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon’s comments about the Real legend sum up the esteem he is held in not only by opposing fans but players too.

“Luka Modrić is football. He’s the definition of it,” he told MARCA. “He’s about to turn 38 but he never stops running or loses his quality. With a player of his age, you would expect his level to drop or be late when pressing but he never gets tired.

“He plays like he’s still 25 years old! And he plays at the highest level too. He’s such a gifted footballer and it’s a pleasure, even if it shouldn’t seem like it, to play against him.”

Having reportedly turned down a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia to join old partners in crime Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, he can still be enjoyed among the elite for a while yet.

Cherish him while he’s there.

Click here for every player named so far and their profiles.