Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren says Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric deserves the Ballon d'Or.

The pair were outstanding for Croatia's World Cup win over Argentina.

And Lovren said: "It's a great pleasure to play with Luka Modric, who is one of the best players in the world.

"Modric would be even more at the centre of attention if he was German or Spanish. He could even become a winner of the Ballon d'Or. As we are a smaller country, he does not receive the attention it deserves.

"But we are all football lovers and we know that Modric is an incredible player."