Alexis Mac Allister, a midfielder for Liverpool, was recently asked to rate a number of different football players during an interview with GOAL (h/t Madrid Zone). Among the players asked to rank were Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard, and Frank Lampard, amongst many others.
A question along these lines was posed to the newly signed player for Liverpool, who was asked to rate Andres Iniesta, Luka Modric, and Kevin De Bruyne.
The last place goes to Luka Modric.
The fact that Mac Allister chose Iniesta above De Bruyne and Modric indicates that the former Barcelona midfielder is the one that he values the most out of the three players.
Given that Iniesta is one of the best midfielders of the 21st century and that he decorated himself with trophies while playing for Barcelona, it is difficult to fault the phenomenon that is Liverpool given that Iniesta won those titles while playing for Barca.
What was unexpected, though, was the fact that Mac Allister ultimately chose Modric as his fourth-to-last selection, only one spot below De Bruyne.
Although there is no doubt that De Bruyne has made a name for himself as one of the best playmakers in the history of the Premier League, it is important to point out that Modric has a far longer track record of success.
A cut above the competition.
It may not be appropriate to make a straight comparison between Modric and De Bruyne since the two players bring quite different traits to the table, with the Belgian being far more focused on offense.
However, it is important to keep in mind that Modric has been competing at the top level of football for the better part of a decade and a half, playing over 500 matches for Real Madrid in the process.
Even though he is 38 years old, Modric has continued to be an important cog in the Real Madrid midfield machine.
To put things in perspective, Iniesta quit playing football in Europe when he was only 34 years old and is now doing his trade in the United Arab Emirates, where he is 39 years old.
Despite this, it is understandable why Mac Allister would choose both the legendary player from Barcelona and the superstar from Manchester City. Both men are exceptional and have made significant contributions to European football over the course of their careers, just as Modric has.