Here’s a list of the top 10 midfielders of the world in my
opinion. It’s understandable and expected that many people might disagree with
this list but here it is nonetheless. Please note that these are midfielders,
which means that they mainly occupy the center of the field and drift wide
occasionally. These are players that display great technical ability, sense of
movement and passing ability. This list does not include wingers who stick to
the sideline and wait for an opportunity to bust their lungs. So do not expect
players like Di Maria, Ronaldo or Robben to be on this list. We’ll leave that
for some time later. Let’s get started:
10. Mesut Ozil
We start off with a technical player. Of Turkish descent,
Mesut Ozil came into the light during Germany’s 2010 world cup qualifiers.
Having played for Werder Bremen prior to the world cup, Real Madrid were quick
to snap up the young midfielder after his notable performances in the world
cup. He starts off most games on the flanks but prefers to play in a free role
like all playmakers. He has a great sense of movement and a decent shot. He likes
to play one twos with forwards and midfielders. His only weakness, if any, is
his decision making, especially near the opposition penalty area. Often, he
chooses the wrong pass or gives the ball away. Regardless, this player is a
delight to watch and is a crucial component of Madrid as well as Germany.
9. David Sila
David Silva celebrates after scoring against Man Utd at Old Trafford.
He is one of 4 Spanish players on this list, understandably so. Often playing out wide in a 4-6-0 formation for Spain, Silva has a tendency to cut in from the right. Instead of going for shots, he prefers to engage in one touch short passes with the other attacking players. It is a strategy Spain have adopted well and Silva has executed it brilliantly. He shined with his former club Valencia and was a key component of Man City's championship winning team. He can be called a playmaker but then every midfielder in Spain except for Busquets and Alonso would be a playmaker. He certainly has the the attributes for a playamker and shares the role with Samir Nasri in Man City.
8. Andrea Pirlo
Andrea Pirlo playing for Italy in Euro 2012.
One might feel that he should be higher on the list. He would be but a few years back during his Milan days. His place in this list is a sign that he is still a top class player at the age of 33. He recently played for Italy in the 2012 Euros and he was the standout player for his side. Having been in the shadows of the likes of Totti and Del Piero in the past, he finally took control of the midfield and he is yet another playmaker. One can tell that he is not as quick in his movements as before but he still has the ability to think quickly and coordinate plays with other players. He certainly still has the ability to shoot, especially free kicks. His free transfer from Milan to Juventus proved to be a bargain as he guided his team to the league title after many years. I think he has enough juice left to last till the next world cup.
Bastian Schweinsteiger for Bayern Munich.
One might feel that he should be higher on the list. He would be but a few years back during his Milan days. His place in this list is a sign that he is still a top class player at the age of 33. He recently played for Italy in the 2012 Euros and he was the standout player for his side. Having been in the shadows of the likes of Totti and Del Piero in the past, he finally took control of the midfield and he is yet another playmaker. One can tell that he is not as quick in his movements as before but he still has the ability to think quickly and coordinate plays with other players. He certainly still has the ability to shoot, especially free kicks. His free transfer from Milan to Juventus proved to be a bargain as he guided his team to the league title after many years. I think he has enough juice left to last till the next world cup.
7. Bastian Schweinsteiger
Bastian Schweinsteiger for Bayern Munich.
Arguably the best midfielder in Germany and has been for
some time now. Almost a direct successor to Michael Ballack, he has carried the
mantle for Germany since his first international appearance in the 2004 Euros.
Silverware still eludes him as he finished champion’s league runner up twice in
3 years. He has finished 3rd in the world cup with Germany in both 2006 and 2010. He has a commanding presence in midfield which allows the wingers and attackers to carry on their duty's with confidence. He usually plays in central midfield but can also play in the defensive midfield role. Possessing one of the fiercest shots in football today, he is comparable to the likes of Lampard, Gerrard and Scholes, maybe even better. Finally we have a central midfielder who is not related to playmaking.
Luka Modrid of Tottenham celebrates in front of the Spurs fans.
6. Luka Modric
Luka Modrid of Tottenham celebrates in front of the Spurs fans.
This guy is one of my favorite players right now. He brings much needed creativity to the English game. Having played for Tottenham for few years, he now forms a formidable midfield with Gareth Bale, Scott Parker, Aaron Lennon and Rafael Van der Vaart for Spurs. Along with his contributions to Spurs that led them to 4th spot in England, he also impressed at the Euros with Croatia. Unfortunately Croatia failed to qualify past Italy and Spain. Modric is one of those players who play with style and it seems as if the ball is stuck to his feet. He is great vision, movement and a decent shot. His most amazing attribute is his ability to pick out passes whether it be long or short. He is rumored to be targeted by Real Madrid and should provide them with much needed creativity in midfield. Undoubtedly he is the most underrated player in this list.
5. Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso for Real Madrid.
The best long passer in the game, hands down. He is someone Paul Scholes would have been proud of. Wow, this is the second time Paul Scholes has been mentioned in this list without even making the list. Only if I wrote this a few years back. Where were we? Oh yeah, Alonso! Ever since his move from Real Sociedad to Liverpool in 2004, he has been showing promising signs as a strong midfielder. Other than Gerrard, he is the only one who has had a major effect in midfield for Liverpool in recent years. Many forget his contribution in that famous champions league final comeback in Istanbul against Milan, due to Gerrard's exceptional performance but Alonso also had a key part to play in that game. He is the only defensive midfielder in the world who is technically gifted. It's hard to believe that a player with such extraordinary attacking ability plays so behind. It's that quality that makes Spain and Real Madrid a dangerous team, a defensive mid who can be lethal even while attacking. Let's not even talk about shooting. This man can find the back of the net from anywhere, just ask Newcastle fans. He almost beat Cassillas from the halfway line once while playing for Liverpool. Anyways, being fifth in this list filled with playmakers and attacking players is no mere feat.
Cesc Fabregas of Barcelona.
Another surprising listing, many would argue, especially so high in the list. Let me justify. I had to put him at number four. He had that number at Arsenal. Just kidding! He is one of the best passers of the game. Over the years he has developed into a brilliant attacking player. Initially in his career he found it difficult to score but that deficiency is long gone. He even plays as forward for Spain sometimes as evident from the recent Euros. He even scored two goals, more than many of the strikers. But that's not the main point. He has a knack for picking out pin point passes and through balls. His ability for close control and one touch play is simply a delight to watch. Let's not forget his movement which is a major factor in Arsenal's as well as Barcelona's style of play. He fit right in at Barcelona especially with David Villa out for extended periods. Unfortunately the immense talent available to Spain forces him to start on the bench.
Wesley Sneijder for the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup.
This guy can play all over the midfield, which makes sense since the Dutch invented total football. But seriously, for Inter as well as the Netherlands, he enjoys a lot possession. The players always look for him. Similar to Rooney's recent role for United, Sneijder often falls a bit back in order to get the ball from defense or midfield to attack. Apart from all his hard work, he has great all round attacking abilities. He can pick out a pass from literally anywhere on the pitch. In the Euros he picked out Huntelaar with a ridiculous (in a good way) pass from the outside of his boot. Had it not been for Huntelaar's bad first touch, it would have been a contender for goal of the tournament. If there was an award for best pass, he would have got it. As far as shooting is concerned he is outstanding. He can take outrageous shots from outside the box. Basically, his overall ability consisting of high work rate, dribbling, passing and shooting puts him at number three in this list.
Xavi Hernandez for Barcelona.
It was really tough putting this man in second spot. He deserves to be number one. The best ground passer in the game, he can penetrate any defense with his incise through balls. With a great sense of movement and immense technical ability he provides Barca and Spain with great attacking play. He thrives on one touch short passes. Unbelievably, he is 32 years of age and it does not look like he is going to retire any time soon either. He can easily go on for few more years at the same level of performance. The key to this is that he uses his energy really well during a game. He controls the midfield from the center and acts like a pivot from which attacks can originate. Like I said for Modric, it seems like the ball is stuck to Xavi's feet. He has flawless control. It is really hard to get the ball from him, which is a statement that is usually made regarding wingers. But Xavi does not require pace or tricks to get past his opponents. He just uses his quick feet to dodge other players. He has now won two Euros and a world cup, all of them being consecutive triumphs. And it is safe to say that Spain wouldn't have achieved all that without him. The same can be said about Barcelona.
Andres Iniesta for Spain.
Finally, the best midfielder in the world, in my opinion atleast. He won best player for the 2012 Euros. He played a major role in Spain's 2010 world cup campaign scoring the winner in the final against the Netherlands. Even for Barca, he is a key player along with Xavi and Messi. These three form the best attacking trio in football today. Their combination is beautiful to watch. Leave the statistics. The only thing Iniesta lacks is aerial ability. Apart from that he has everything that a midfielder needs, great control, pin point passing, amazing movement and technical skills. He also has a good amount of pace, probably where he beats Xavi. He is often deployed on the flanks but like Silva he likes to cut into the center and combine with the attackers. Not only is he skillful but also extremely intelligent while playing. He knows when to pick out a chip pass or when to fake the defender. His great agility(similar to Xavi) helps him get past players and and out of danger. Another crucial aspect of his play is his decision making which many midfielders lack. That is the reason why every time Barca attack, they look like scoring. He has built a great amount of chemistry with Messi, Xavi and the other Spanish players. We are still to see how he would fare with playing with other players but currently he seems to be doing pretty well.
Well, that pretty much wraps it up. The list is likely to change in the following years and there a few other players I would like to mention. Players like Kaka, Gerrard and Lampard would have been on the list a few years back. Nasri and Yaya Toure were shortlisted but couldn't make the list. I might be guilty of including too many technical playmakers but those are the ones that pose the greatest threat and are delightful to watch. Stay tuned for more lists.
4. Cesc Fabregas
Cesc Fabregas of Barcelona.
Another surprising listing, many would argue, especially so high in the list. Let me justify. I had to put him at number four. He had that number at Arsenal. Just kidding! He is one of the best passers of the game. Over the years he has developed into a brilliant attacking player. Initially in his career he found it difficult to score but that deficiency is long gone. He even plays as forward for Spain sometimes as evident from the recent Euros. He even scored two goals, more than many of the strikers. But that's not the main point. He has a knack for picking out pin point passes and through balls. His ability for close control and one touch play is simply a delight to watch. Let's not forget his movement which is a major factor in Arsenal's as well as Barcelona's style of play. He fit right in at Barcelona especially with David Villa out for extended periods. Unfortunately the immense talent available to Spain forces him to start on the bench.
3. Wesley Sneijder
Wesley Sneijder for the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup.
This guy can play all over the midfield, which makes sense since the Dutch invented total football. But seriously, for Inter as well as the Netherlands, he enjoys a lot possession. The players always look for him. Similar to Rooney's recent role for United, Sneijder often falls a bit back in order to get the ball from defense or midfield to attack. Apart from all his hard work, he has great all round attacking abilities. He can pick out a pass from literally anywhere on the pitch. In the Euros he picked out Huntelaar with a ridiculous (in a good way) pass from the outside of his boot. Had it not been for Huntelaar's bad first touch, it would have been a contender for goal of the tournament. If there was an award for best pass, he would have got it. As far as shooting is concerned he is outstanding. He can take outrageous shots from outside the box. Basically, his overall ability consisting of high work rate, dribbling, passing and shooting puts him at number three in this list.
2. Xavi Hernandez
Xavi Hernandez for Barcelona.
It was really tough putting this man in second spot. He deserves to be number one. The best ground passer in the game, he can penetrate any defense with his incise through balls. With a great sense of movement and immense technical ability he provides Barca and Spain with great attacking play. He thrives on one touch short passes. Unbelievably, he is 32 years of age and it does not look like he is going to retire any time soon either. He can easily go on for few more years at the same level of performance. The key to this is that he uses his energy really well during a game. He controls the midfield from the center and acts like a pivot from which attacks can originate. Like I said for Modric, it seems like the ball is stuck to Xavi's feet. He has flawless control. It is really hard to get the ball from him, which is a statement that is usually made regarding wingers. But Xavi does not require pace or tricks to get past his opponents. He just uses his quick feet to dodge other players. He has now won two Euros and a world cup, all of them being consecutive triumphs. And it is safe to say that Spain wouldn't have achieved all that without him. The same can be said about Barcelona.
1. Andres Iniesta
Andres Iniesta for Spain.
Finally, the best midfielder in the world, in my opinion atleast. He won best player for the 2012 Euros. He played a major role in Spain's 2010 world cup campaign scoring the winner in the final against the Netherlands. Even for Barca, he is a key player along with Xavi and Messi. These three form the best attacking trio in football today. Their combination is beautiful to watch. Leave the statistics. The only thing Iniesta lacks is aerial ability. Apart from that he has everything that a midfielder needs, great control, pin point passing, amazing movement and technical skills. He also has a good amount of pace, probably where he beats Xavi. He is often deployed on the flanks but like Silva he likes to cut into the center and combine with the attackers. Not only is he skillful but also extremely intelligent while playing. He knows when to pick out a chip pass or when to fake the defender. His great agility(similar to Xavi) helps him get past players and and out of danger. Another crucial aspect of his play is his decision making which many midfielders lack. That is the reason why every time Barca attack, they look like scoring. He has built a great amount of chemistry with Messi, Xavi and the other Spanish players. We are still to see how he would fare with playing with other players but currently he seems to be doing pretty well.
Well, that pretty much wraps it up. The list is likely to change in the following years and there a few other players I would like to mention. Players like Kaka, Gerrard and Lampard would have been on the list a few years back. Nasri and Yaya Toure were shortlisted but couldn't make the list. I might be guilty of including too many technical playmakers but those are the ones that pose the greatest threat and are delightful to watch. Stay tuned for more lists.
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