I enlisted the help of ChatGPT to compile a list of the 20 greatest midfielders in football history.
There was no room for Chelsea legend Frank Lampard, but Manchester United icon Paul Scholes and England teammate Steven Gerrard made the list, according to AI.
Zinedine Zidane and Luka Modric make the top five, while ex-Barcelona player Xavi finishes sixth.
The middle is a football team’s heartbeat. It is where football matches are frequently won, control is established, and the game’s flow is governed. Midfielders have historically played an important role in how teams function and flourish, from deep-lying passers like Andrea Pirlo and Xavi to creative geniuses like Zinedine Zidane and Andres Iniesta.
Undeniably, finding the finest of all time from this wide pool of talent is a difficult undertaking, which is why GIVEMESPORT has enlisted the assistance of artificial intelligence to compile a list of the 20 best midfielders to have graced the sport.
ChatGPT used a variety of rating factors to determine its selection, as follows:
“Here’s a ranked list of the top 20 midfielders in football history, highlighting their unique contributions and legacies”
20Dunga
Brazil
What ChatGPT had to say: “Dunga’s leadership, passing, and defensive capabilities were key to Brazil’s 1994 World Cup win and their strong performances in international tournaments.”
Dunga, a no-nonsense midfield commander, exemplified Brazil’s steely edge during their 1994 World Cup victory. He captained the team and played the role of anchor, breaking up opponent play while also providing opportunities for teammates through his forward passes.
Unlike the flair-focused Brazilian legends of the past, Dunga was more of a muscular backbone, though he nevertheless held his own in the middle of the park with his technique – after all, this Brazil team dominated possession.
19Didi
Brazil
What ChatGPT had to say: “Didi’s passing, vision, and leadership were crucial in Brazil’s 1958 and 1962 World Cup victories.”
Cristiano Ronaldo’s famed knuckleball free kick was simply a continuation of Didi’s ‘dry leaf’ effect, which he pioneered decades ago. The Brazilian playmaker mastered the knack of striking the ball so that it dipped and swerved unexpectedly, a technique that perplexed goalkeepers long before Ronaldo or even Juninho were on the scene.
Indeed, Didi was instrumental in his country’s golden run of international success, orchestrating Brazil’s performances in both the 1958 and 1962 World Cup victories. Despite the fact that Pele and Garrincha dominated the headlines for the South American giants at the time, Didi was elected the best player in Sweden in 1958, ahead of the aforementioned combo, demonstrating his dominance from midfield.
18Garrincha
Brazil
This is what ChatGPT said: “Garrincha’s dribbling, flair, and creativity were central to Brazil’s World Cup successes in 1958 and 1962.”
Garrincha’s sparkling career is even more astounding when you realize the physical hurdles he faced just to play the game. Doctors were astounded that he could even walk properly, let alone dribble past great defenders in such a spectacular fashion.
He had an uneven spine and uneven legs, but that didn’t stop him from becoming a symbol of Brazilian flair and one of football’s best players. Garrincha helped his country win the 1958 World Cup alongside Pele before going one better in 1962, bringing Brazil to victory on his own after his colleague was injured earlier in the tournament.
17Carlos Alberto
Brazil
What ChatGPT had to say: “Carlos Alberto’s leadership, passing, and attacking runs were pivotal in Brazil’s 1970 World Cup victory.”
Yes, Carlos Alberto was a right-back by trade, but given how he surged forward and operated in offensive areas, he frequently played like a wide midfielder. That combination of defensive leadership and offensive performance may earn him a place among the game’s finest midfielders.
Few instances better reflect this than Alberto’s legendary goal in the 1970 World Cup final, which featured a sweeping move from back to front, followed by a powerful strike that rocked the crowd.
16Gianni Rivera
Italy
What ChatGPT had to say: “Rivera’s creativity, passing, and leadership were key to AC Milan’s successes and Italy’s strong performances in international tournaments.”
Rivera’s name may not be the first that comes to mind when considering football’s all-time greats, but in Italy, his reputation is unrivaled. Rivera, regarded as one of the nation’s finest ever players, played midfield with elegance and vision during a golden age for both AC Milan and his country.
15Raymond Kopa
France
What ChatGPT had to say: “Kopa’s dribbling, passing, and vision were instrumental in France’s 1958 World Cup run and Real Madrid’s European Cup victories.”
Before him, the classic number ten role for France was epitomized by Zinedine Zidane and Michel Platini, but Raymond Kopa came first.
With his quick feet and unusual ability to easily break into defences, the former Real Madrid icon was far ahead of his time. He played for Reims, Angers, and the La Liga giants, winning three European Cups and numerous league titles.
He is also warmly remembered on an international level for his contributions to France’s third-place finish in the 1958 World Cup, the same year he was named the first French recipient of the famous Ballon d’Or.
14Patrick Vieira
France
What ChatGPT shared: “Vieira’s physicality, passing, and leadership were crucial in Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ season and France’s international successes.”
Patrick Vieira, a towering midfielder, blended technique and enormous power to become one of his generation’s most imposing personalities. Opponents quickly realized he was not the type of player they wanted to upset.
Vieira frequently wore the captain’s armband, whether for Arsenal or France, demonstrating his great leadership qualities.
Having said that, it’s no wonder that Vieira’s career was filled with silverware. He won the World Cup and European Championship with France, and he was instrumental in Arsenal’s golden era.
13Steven Gerrard
England
What ChatGPT was saying: “Gerrard’s leadership, passing, and goal-scoring ability were central to Liverpool’s successes, including their 2005 Champions League victory.”
Steven Gerrard was the full package as a midfielder. He could score screamers, ping 50-yard passes, and almost single-handedly dictate play, which is why he will be remembered as one of England’s greatest midfielders.
But what ultimately secured his legacy as a Liverpool and English football icon was his ability to perform in crucial circumstances. The incredible comeback in the 2005 Champions League final was centered on Gerrard, and the 2006 FA Cup final was named after the Merseyside hero, to name a few of his greatest moments. He was dependably bright, and more importantly, decisive, when it counted the most.
12Paul Scholes
England
What ChatGPT had to say: “Scholes’s passing, vision, and shooting were key to Manchester United’s dominance in English football during his career.”
Paul Scholes, as important as he was to the Red Devils’ title-winning years, is frequently regarded as one of the relatively underestimated midfielders of his period, owing to the fact that he played during an era in English football when physicality trumped subtlety. Not that Scholes ever suffered with the rugged side of the game, but his technique and vision were unquestionably ahead of their time.
Xavi, a famous midfielder, once said:
“In the previous 15 to 20 years, Scholes has been the best and most complete central midfielder I’ve seen.
“He can make the final pass, score, is strong, never gets knocked off the ball, and does not give control away. If he had been Spanish, perhaps he would have been valued more.”
11Clarence Seedorf
Netherlands
What ChatGPT shared: “Seedorf’s versatility, passing, and leadership led to success at top clubs like Ajax, Real Madrid, and AC Milan, winning multiple Champions League titles.”
Indeed, Seedorf is the only player in football history to have won the Champions League with three different clubs; success seemed to follow him throughout his decorated club career, which is unsurprising given the Dutchman’s quality and impact with the ball at his feet.
Finally, it’s a pity that the Surinamese midfielder has consistently failed to achieve international success. He only made it to the semi-finals of a major tournament with the Netherlands three times: Euro 2000, Euro 2004, and the 1998 World Cup.
10Frank Rijkaard
Netherlands
What ChatGPT shared: “Rijkaard’s defensive solidity, passing, and leadership were crucial to AC Milan’s success and the Netherlands’ strong performances in international tournaments.”
Frank Rijkaard is frequently recognized for his defensive work, yet portraying him purely as a destroyer would be a disservice to his exceptional technical abilities. As a deep-lying midfielder, he was one of the most graceful players in the position, capable of both breaking up play and spraying inch-perfect passes across the pitch.
That, in turn, contributed to his career’s plenty of awards. He helped AC Milan win two legendary European Cups and was equally influential at the international level, guiding the Dutch to a stunning victory at Euro 1988.
9Lothar Matthaus
Germany
What ChatGPT shared: “Matthaus’s versatility, passing, and leadership were central to Germany’s 1990 World Cup victory and his successful club career.”
That World Cup victory confirmed Matthaus’ position as a great and earned him the Ballon d’Or that same year. It was uncommon for box-to-box midfielders of his caliber to receive the honor, demonstrating the German’s true versatility as a midfielder.
Matthaus was also quite successful at the club level. He won six Bundesliga titles and numerous other domestic trophies. The Erlangen native failed to win the Champions League, but he did win two UEFA Cups with Bayern Munich and Inter Milan.
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