Defensive midfield is one of the most crucial positions on the football pitch. The role necessitates excellent fitness, ball handling skills, and the ability to make tackles and break up play, all of which are quite taxing. The best defensive midfielders can accomplish all of this and more, including scoring goals and dropping into defence as an extra body.
The position was transformed by greats such as Claude Makelele, and it is now used by practically every team in the world. The greatest defensive midfielders of all time are listed below, along with a Ballon d’Or winner, World Cup winners, and football celebrities.
Ranking Factors:
Achievements
All-round capability
Defensive and on-ball attributes
10Didier Deschamps
Notable Clubs Played For: Marseille, Juventus, Chelsea
Didier Deschamps, now a World Cup-winning manager for France, was a world-class defensive midfielder during his playing career. The Frenchman was extremely astute on the pitch, and this has translated into a successful managing career.
He excelled at gaining the ball back in the heart of the ground and launching assaults with his excellent passing range. Deschamps, a true leader, was an ideal teammate, leading France to win in the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European Championship. Deschamps began his career as a striker and was versatile in a variety of positions, but he excelled in defensive midfield, where he was ranked among the finest in the world.
Didier Deschamps’ Career Statistics
Appearances
562
Goals
21
Trophies
16
9Dunga
Notable Clubs Played For: Santos, Fiorentina, Stuttgart
Dunga, an exceptionally agile midfielder, is largely recognised as one of the greatest defensive midfielders in football history.
The Brazil star was a combative midfielder who enjoyed tackling while still being excellent on the ball, as were many of his iconic teammates. Dunga owns the World Cup record for the most passes and tackles, which he set in 1994, demonstrating his ability.
Dunga, like many great defensive midfielders, could do it all and was an invaluable member of every club he played for. He would stand out both with and without the ball, breaking up play and starting assaults by feeding some of the great players with whom he played.
Dunga’s career statistics
Appearances
393
Goals
44
Trophies
7
8Rodri
Notable Clubs Played For: Atletico Madrid, Man City
Rodri was known as a brilliant midfielder, but it wasn’t until a year into his stint at Manchester City that he truly established himself in the globe. After studying Pep Guardiola’s system, the Spanish midfielder went on to become a great player, as seen by his 2024 Ballon d’Or victory.
Winning the prize indicates how talented he is, considering midfielders are sometimes overlooked for the Ballon d’Or in favour of attackers. Rodri is a great player, breaking up play, making inch-perfect passes, and scoring critical goals, such as in the 2023 Champions League final.
Currently sidelined with an ACL injury, the Spaniard is critical to his national team and Manchester City, who have suffered a significant decrease in form since his injury.
Rodri’s Career Statistics
Appearances
433
Goals
33
Trophies
15
7Roy Keane
Notable Clubs Played For: Nottingham Forest, Man United, Celtic
Roy Keane, one of the best midfielders in Premier League history and now one of the country’s top analysts, was an amazing player.
The Irish midfielder was a true fighter who led by example on the pitch, with a terrific work ethic and a willingness to go to any length to win. Keane, an aggressive tackler, was a nightmare for all opponents, who never wanted to meddle with the former Manchester United player.
Keane won numerous trophies throughout his career and was an excellent player both on and off the ball, making him an important part of the United team. Stepping up in crucial games, Keane was the ideal midfielder for his generation, and opponents seldom got the better of him.
Roy Keane’s Career Statistics
Appearances
622
Goals
79
Trophies
19
6Patrick Vieira
Notable Clubs Played For: Arsenal, Juventus, Inter Milan
Patrick Vieira, Roy Keane’s on-field counterpart, was a formidable midfielder. The French midfielder, who was a member of Arsenal’s Invincibles team, is unquestionably one of the Premier League’s best players of all time. Vieira, a muscular midfielder, could easily rob opponents of possession before driving up the pitch to help with attacks. His extremely long legs and upper body power made him an ideal midfielder.
Vieira was a team leader who won numerous trophies throughout his career. Regularly participating in midfield fights, the former Juventus player would generally come out on top due to his brains and athletic abilities.
Patrick Vieira’s Career Statistics
Appearances
650
Goals
56
Trophies
22
5Frank Rijkaard
Notable Clubs Played For: Ajax, AC Milan
Frank Rijkaard is regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders of all time, thanks to his tactical knowledge and ability to read the game. The Dutchman was a complete midfielder who excelled both offensively and defensively, making frequent interceptions and making crucial tackles. His comprehension of the game was excellent, and it carried over into his managerial career, where he won the Champions League with Barcelona.
The former Ajax star was a very stylish player who could contribute wherever on the pitch, which is why he is so well regarded in the football world.
Frank Rijkaard’s Career Statistics
Appearances
549
Goals
97
Trophies
23
4Claude Makelele
Notable Clubs Played For: Real Madrid, Chelsea, PSG
Claude Makelele was one of the best midfielders of all time, to the point where the position became known as ‘the Makelele role’. Makelele had incredible positional awareness and seemed to cover every blade of grass, knowing exactly where to be to block attacks. A virtuoso of tackles and interceptions, he transformed the game over a career that included appearances for some of the world’s most prestigious clubs.
Makelele, who sat directly in front of the defence, was the heartbeat of his club, controlling play and providing excellent goal protection. The Frenchman is unquestionably one of the greatest players of all time.
Claude Makelele’s Career Statistics
Appearances
809
Goals
24
Trophies
15
3N’Golo Kante
Notable Clubs Played For: Leicester, Chelsea
N’Golo Kante was an incredibly talented footballer. N’Golo Kante made his debut in the Premier League with Leicester during the 2015/16 season, where he was a key member of the club that defied all odds to win the title. After standing out in that amazing team, the Frenchman moved to Chelsea, where he not only won the league, but also the PFA Player of the Year title.
Kante is a high-energy, tough-tackling midfielder who disrupts play like no one else. Kante is regarded as an all-time great, having won multiple titles with Chelsea, as well as a World Cup.
N’Golo Kante’s Career Statistics
Appearances
495
Goals
30
Trophies
9
2Sergio Busquets
Notable Teams Played For: Barcelona, Inter Miami
Sergio Busquets, the heartbeat of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona club, was an outstanding defensive midfielder. Busquets controlled every game he played, always playing at his own speed and never losing possession of the ball thanks to his technical skill.
The Spaniard, who played with Xavi and Andres Iniesta, could do it all, navigating any circumstance with his quick feet and football brain. Capable of making spectacular tackles, it was his on-the-ball ability that really distinguished out. Winning multiple trophies for both club and nation, the midfielder was not your traditional defensive midfielder, preferring to have the ball rather than win it back.
Segio Busquets’ Career Statistics
Appearances
784
Goals
19
Trophies
36
1Lothar Matthaus
Notable Clubs Played For: Borrusia Monchengladbach, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich
Lothar Matthaus, an extraordinarily flexible player with all of the characteristics of an outstanding player, is arguably the best defensive midfielder of all time.
The German stood out in every side he played for, since he was comfortable on the ball and constantly looked to move forward. Matthaus was superb defensively due to his placement and game reading; he could easily stop attacks while also contributing forward. The midfielder was a menace wherever he played, having scored a lot of goals throughout his career.
Matthaus, an outstanding leader, led West Germany to World Cup triumph in 1990, marking the zenith of his career. The German, who won the Ballon d’Or the same year, was one of the best midfielders to ever play the game.
Lothar Matthaus’s career statistics
Appearances
785
Goals
204
Trophies
20
