AS we count down towards the most important sporting contest on the planet, let’s take a look at the two major contenders for player of the tournament honours. Luckily, both will be playing close to each other in the World Cup Final.

Kylian Mbappe – France

Striker Olivier Giroud calls Mbappe the ‘rough diamond’ and the greatest teenager he’s ever shared a football pitch with. Paul Pogba insists that the 19-year-old Mbappe is a superior footballer to Pogba at the same age. Everyone else is just delighted that he’s reached the final.

Russia 2018 has been a fabulous tournament, but one that has very much emphasised the collective, which is probably why standout contenders for the player of the tournament are hard to come by.

But Mbappe has been the glorious exception. Hungry for the ball, he’s blessed with the innocence of youth. He fears no one and isn’t cowed by the occasion. And he’s so fast, hypnotically quick and captivating to behold.

Against Argentina, he became the first teenager to score twice at a World Cup since Pele. He’s also scored against Peru and has a slim chance of catching Harry Kane for the Golden Boot, but he’d need at least a hat-trick in the final.

Nevertheless, the end of the tournament will showcase the beginning of an international career that could go down as one of the greatest. Whatever happens on Sunday, the future belongs to Mbappe.

Luka Modric – Croatia

For Modric, the future’s now. Croatia fans are making fun of the fact that their national flag contains an emblem that looks like prophetic. It’s a yellow goat. Normally, a nation’s fate is written in the stars. Croatians believes theirs is written in the flag. They have the blonde GOAT – the greatest of all time in the majestic 32-year-old Modric.

That might be a stretch, but they arguably have the greatest of the tournament, certainly at the moment. Modric’s intelligent dismantling of England’s huffers and puffers was a treat to behold. He claims he was spurred to victory by the lack of respect shown to Croatia in the build-up. And he was probably right.

He’s not timid and never hides. Modric grew up in a war-ravaged environment and lost a relative in the conflict. His slender frame conceals a monstrous appetite for success.

He directs Croatian play and conrtols the game’s momentum from midfield. His inch-perfect through ball to Ante Rebic in the round-of-16 tie against Denmark was one of the passes of the tournament. He plays 360-degree football, always aware of every opponent and team-mate, every bit of space and every potential pass that surrounds him.

Perhaps more than Mbappe, Modric has defined the tone of this World Cup, one that has been about the team ethic, rather than star-spangled superstars. He has been at the heart of every positive Croatian motive.

Indeed, there is every possibility that Modric might lost the final, but win player of the tournament honours; scant consolation, perhaps, but a fitting tribute for a fabulous footballer.

Neil Humphreys
Singapore’s best selling author and Football columnist