Modric (During Croatian War of Independence): "I was with it (ball) all the time. When I went to the shelter I took it with me and I played with my friends, with everyone. I organised games. It meant everything to me."

Modric: "I broke so many windows at the hotel & of people's cars, everyone was always mad at me. My father had to pay for it. It was expensive."

ᴺᵒᵗᵉ: ᵂᵃʳ ᶠᵒʳᶜᵉᵈ ʰⁱˢ ᶠᵃᵐⁱˡʸ ᵗᵒ ˡᵉᵃᵛᵉ ᵗʰᵉⁱʳ ʰᵒᵐᵉ ᵃⁿᵈ ˡⁱᵛᵉᵈ ⁱⁿ ᴴᵒᵗᵉˡ ᶠᵒʳ ⁷ ʸᵉᵃʳˢ

Modric: "I remember the fear. We played football and the alarms went off (during war). It was normal."

Modric: "There was always a lot of doubt around me - about my quality, my style, my physique. They said I was too weak to make it to the top but it didn't affect me. It motivated me more."

Modric: "People judge people without knowing them, even more today with social media, which is why I stopped reading it a long time ago. I have my circle and I surround myself with positivity"

Modric: "I remember that poll and it wasn't nice at the time but I believed in myself. I believed I would prove I should be a player for Real Madrid."

Modric' "It can be like this because people are always more focused on the players that score a lot of goals or make assists and if they're not watching matches they need time to notice the players who aren't doing those things,"

Modric: "Like David Silva and in the past Xavi, Iniesta. Without these kinds of players the team isn't functioning."

Modric: "But I think over time the recognition comes. Sometimes people need time to see it. Eventually I won the Ballon d'Or and the UEFA player of the year. In the end, people noticed."

Modric: "At my age you don't make huge plans. It would be fantastic to finish my career in this fantastic club in this fantastic city but it is not my decision. It's up to Real Madrid"

Modric: "There are not many players that finish their career here, very few, but I want to play more years. I want to prove I can still play well and if that's not at Madrid, I will look at the options."