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#3 Best - Ivan Rakitic
Luka Modric will take away all the plaudits from the game and rightfully so. But there were many around him who put in a good shift too. Ivan Rakitic is one of them, and the Barcelona star made unprecedented efforts to stifle Argentina.
He was critical to keeping Messi in check, ghosting around him when in possession and jumping at him with his legs outstretched whenever he tried to take a shot or connect with a pass. His best effort was the superb block at around the hour mark as he denied Messi from point-blank range what could've otherwise been a goal. Rakitic's defensive shift was immense in helping Croatia keep the mighty Argentina at arm's length, but he also had a significant say on the offensive front.
Rakitic was quick to run into pockets of space and also accurate with his long balls over the top. He broke well on the counter to instigate attacks and added insult to Argentina's injury with the last strike of the game, coolly slotting home past Mercado from barely 5 yards out.
