ThetroubleisthatIfailtounderstandwhywearesoquicktoclassifyVitinha,Bruno
Fernandes,andJoãoNevesasworld-classmidfielders.
LetmetellyouwhatIbelievebeingaworld-classmidfieldermeans.
Aworld-classmidfielderissomeonewhoshowsdominanceregardlessofthe
environment.Aplayerwhoselevelremainselitewhetheritisclubfootballorinternational
football.
IfyouwatchedPortugalagainstCroatia,youwouldhaveseena41-year-oldLukaModrić
onceagainputtingonamidfieldmasterclass.
Hiscomposure,decision-making,tempocontrol,positioning,andabilitytodictatethe
gamewereallthereforeveryonetosee.
Thishasnothingtodowithage.
Ithaseverythingtodowithquality.
Yes,VitinhahasbeenexceptionalforPSG.
Nobodyisdenyingthat.
Butinternationalfootballisanothertest.
Canheconsistentlydominatetherethesamewayhedoesatclublevel?
ThesamequestionappliestoJoãoNeves.
ThesamequestionappliestoBrunoFernandes.
Beingoutstandinginonesystem isdifferentfrom provingyoucanimposeyourselfin
everyenvironment.
That,forme,iswhatseparatesaverygoodplayerfrom atrulyworld-classplayer.
LookatLukaModrić.
Hehasperformedforclubandcountryforwelloveradecade.
HehashelpedCroatiareachaWorldCupfinal,anotherWorldCupsemi-final,and
consistentlyelevatedthem onthebiggeststages.
AtRealMadrid,hehaswonmultipleChampionsLeaguetitleswhileremainingoneofthe
team'smostinfluentialplayers.
Thatissustainedexcellence.
Thatisconsistencyacrossdifferentenvironments.
I'm notsayingVitinha,JoãoNeves,orBrunoFernandesarenotexcellentmidfielders.
Theyare.
Butforme,thelabel"world-class"hastobeearnedovertimeandacrossdifferentstages
offootball.
ThatiswhyLukaModrićremainsthebenchmark.
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