Recently injured Luka Modric is one of the key players in Real Madrid’s team, but few think of him as one of their stars compared to Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Football is full of unsung heroes throughout the divisions, solid centre-backs and goalkeepers keeping their sides in games for season after season while others take the credit.
This list, however, is about those players at the other end of the scale. They are all top players, at some of the world’s biggest clubs, and yet they are too often quickly dismissed for perceived, often imagined, flaws.
Here are the world’s most underrated top level players:
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10) Mario Mandzukic – Atletico Madrid
Mandzukic was a key part of Bayern’s Champions League success in 2013, but he quickly found himself booted out in favour of Robert Lewandowski. This has lead many to believe the Croatian was not a top player: the ten goals he’s scored already this season beg to differ.
9) Gonzalo Higuain – Napoli
The first of many Real Madrid stars on this list, Higuain essentially suffered from the impatience of the crowd at the Bernabeu, who get impatient after a player has been at their side for a while. The Argentine superstar scored 107 in 190 for Madrid, but still found himself shipped out to Napoli, where he has continued to find the net regularly.
8) Carlos Tevez – Juventus
Tevez has found his private life distract from the ability on the pitch, and all too often people forget how good he actually is. Despite saving West Ham from relegation, helping Manchester United win the Champions League and then Manchester City win their first league title, Tevez left to Juventus with more of a reputation as a trouble maker than as a great striker. 
7) David Pizarro – Fiorentina
Small and stocky and without any real pace, David Pizarro’s amazing ability on the ball still allowed him to be a top player for a decade in Italy. English fans who don’t watch Serie A will barely be aware of the quality of the centre-mid- even though he did make a brief cameo at Manchester City in 2012.
6) Javier Mascherano – Barcelona
Mascherano put in some dodgy performances early on at Barcelona as he adjusted to playing at centre-back, but has since converted with such prowess that he can be considered one of Europe’s best in his new position. When he misses games, Barca look toothless without his toughness at the back and his understanding of their system of distribution.
5) Jordy Clasie – Feyenoord
It is frankly amazing that Clasie has made it to 23 without being picked up by a top club. His small stature (5’7) might be holding him back, but like Xavi, the man he’s most often compared to, he doesn’t need to use his height much, generally moving the ball before anyone can get close. Almost certainly to make the move to a Champions League side this summer.
4) Jose Fonte – Southampton
Southampton’s great success last year was generally attributed to Rickie Lambert, Jay Rodriguez and Adam Lallana. But the fact that their defence has been incredibly solid again this year, despite the loss of Dejan Lovren, has meant that people have finally had to acknowledge Fonte’s abilities.
3) Karim Benzema – Real Madrid
Benzema is linked with moves away from Real Madrid almost every summer, as they eye up Europe’s hottest striking properties, but one feels like they might not know what they’ve got in Benzema until he’s gone.
2) Sergio Busquets – Barcelona
Busquets is underrated because he doesn’t do either of the two things that most people think midfielders are supposed to do: tackle the opposition or score goals. In fact he does much more than this, intercepting the opposition’s passes, controlling the tempo and setting up team-mates, all while keeping the ball.
1) Luka Modric – Real Madrid
Modric’s injury will hurt Madrid more than most people can imagine. Despite having all the attacking abilities of a number 10, Modric has adapted to a deeper role under Carlo Ancelotti. At the end of his first season in Madrid he won the award for the worst signing of the season. Two years later, he was being hailed as the key behind Madrid’s Champions League success.