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#3 Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
Riding on Luka Modric's impressive run of form, Croatia reached the final of the 2018 World Cup. Though they left Russia empty-handed, Modric's agony in the final had numbed the hearts of every football fan around the world.
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The Real Madrid star has been a great servant to his country ever since debuting in 2006. Croatia continue to rely heavily on Modric to dictate play with his excellent passing and vision.
The 35-year-old is also an ever-present player in Real Madrid's midfield as well. Back in 2012, Madrid fans voted Modric as one of the worst signings the club had ever made.
Nine years down, Real Madrid fans can hardly think of a line-up without Modric. His contributions were deservedly recognized when he won the 2018 Ballon d'Or award.
#2 Heung-min Son (Tottenham)
Heung-min Son is one of the greatest ever South Korean footballers, if not the best. The forward has elevated his status since joining Tottenham Hotspur.
In the process he has increased Tottenham's acceptance among South Korean fans too. Statistics show that there are more Tottenham fans in South Korea than in the UK.
Son enjoyed an impressive debut campaign in the Premier League, contributing towards 15 per cent of all of Tottenham's goals.
Over the next six years, the former Bayer Leverkusen man has gone on to become one of Tottenham's fan favorites. He is full of positive energy and always keeps a smile on his face. Gareth Bale referred to him as the "nicest person on earth."
The popularity Son has gained for himself isn't just limited to Tottenham and its fans. Wearing the captain's armband for South Korea, the 29-year-old has so far made 44 goal contributions. He is a very popular figure back home and has become a global icon for Asian football.
Despite living thousands of miles away in England, Son keeps himself abreast of the happenings in his country. He donated £100,000 for the wildfire victims of his country back in 2019, earning even more respect from the fans.
#1 N'Golo Kante
Chelsea's French midfielder N'Golo Kante has to be in top spot on the list. Kante possesses exceptional warmth and modesty, making him one of the most loved and respected footballers in the world.
Starting from the French third division, the midfielder has traversed a thorny path to reach the level he is at right now. He had to wait until the age of 19 to play for a professional club (Boulogne).
Even after securing a dream move to England with Leicester City, he did not lose contact with his former coach at his first club JS Suresnes, Pierre Ville.
The Leicester City move didn't get into his head as he initially preferred to run to training instead of using his second-hand car.
The Foxes reaped the benefits of signing Kante in the first season. The midfielder played an instrumental role in helping Leicester City win an unlikely Premier League title at the end of the 2015-16 campaign.
While most defensive midfielders look to read the game and make interceptions, Kante possesses the ability to chase down defenders. He is a calming presence in front of defenders.
The fact that he is yet to receive a red card in the Premier League says a lot about the type of character he is.
Kante has been critically important to France as well. The World Cup title in Russia back in 2018 was just a reward for all the service he has done for his nation. However, he was initially too shy to hold the trophy and had to be helped by Steven N’Zonzi.
Kante is still just 30 and has years left in his career. With the type of character he is, the Frenchman will win more hearts as he goes on.
