Giving Compass' Take:

• Global Citizen profiles the refugees who became stars at the World Cup, including Luka Modric of Croatia, whose team made it all the way to the semifinals to face England.

• With populism on the rise around the globe and restrictive immigration policies becoming the norm, it's worth a reminder that those who overcome hardships to escape oppression can rise above the fray and shine bright.

• Want to be help refugees in need? Here's how to open your home to them.

Six weeks ago, Luka Modric kissed the elusive silver of the Champions League trophy for the fourth time in five seasons, and third in a row, as Real Madrid beat Liverpool 3-1 in Kiev, Ukraine.

He called their record-breaking victory “a dynasty in football.” That’s an understatement — it’s unlikely anyone will ever be able to repeat their success. Only Real Madrid have ever won back-to-back Champions League titles — and nobody has even come close to three.

Modric has played every second of those four finals — and is now through to the quarter-finals of the World Cup with Croatia against hosts Russia. Teammate Ivan Rakitic calls his captain the “best Croatian player ever.” But his childhood was a parallel universe; he grew up among landmines, gunfire, and war crimes.

Read the full article about refugees who made their mark at the World Cup by James Hitchings-Hales at Global Citizen.