From his tough childhood as a refugee to almost joining Real Madrid’s deadly rivals Barcelona over a decade ago, the Croatian midfielder is not only one of the most talented players of the current era but also one of the most fascinating.

1. He was a refugee as a child
Luka had a tough childhood. Growing up during the Yugoslav Wars in the early 1990s, he tragically lost his grandfather to the conflict and became a refugee with his family who were forced to flee their hometown. He grew up living in hotels – most at the Hotel Kolovare, in Zadar – and first learned to play football in the hotel parking lots.