In today’s game, there are numerous varieties of midfielders, each of whom contributes significantly to their team and nation.
Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri are among the Manchester City players who rank among the top 20 midfielders in the world of football.
Even though Luka Modric’s prime is over, he remains one of the greatest in the world.
It’s commonly believed that the football side that prevails in the midfield duel usually wins the match. They are typically crucial to the outcome of a game, whether they are an attacking midfielder who can contribute goals and assists, a box-to-box player who can play both sides well, or a holding midfielder who can stop the opposition’s attack.
In light of this, the top 20 midfield players in the world are listed below, arranged in order of skill. Players like Jude Bellingham and Kevin De Bruyne are included in these rankings, which are based on the following criteria.
Ranking Elements
Current Form
2024 Individual Awards 2024 Team Trophies
Relevance to the Team (Club)
Relevance to the National Team
The Function of Respective Teams
Ranking of the Best Midfielders in the World
Rank
Name
Group
Country of origin
One
Rodri
City of Manchester
Spain
2.
Bellingham, Jude
Real Madrid
England
3.
Odegaard, Martin
The Arsenal
Norway
4.
Musiala Jamal
The Bayern Munich
Germany
5.
Rice, Declan
The Arsenal
England
6.
Federico Valverde
Real Madrid
Uruguay
7.
Gravenberch, Ryan
Liverpool
The Netherlands
8.
De Bruyne, Kevin
City of Manchester
Belgium
9.
Aurelien Tchouameni
Real Madrid
France
10.
Alexis Mac Allister
Liverpool
Argentina
11
Eduardo Camavinga
Real Madrid
France
12
Fernandes Bruno
United Manchester
Portugal
13
Pedri
Barcelona
Spain
14
Joshua Kimmich
Bayern Munich
Germany
15
Dani Olmo
Barcelona
Spain
16
Luka Modric
Real Madrid
Croatia
17
Granit Xhaka
Bayer Leverkusen
Switzerland
18
Nicolo Barella
Inter Milan
Italy
19
Moises Caicedo
Chelsea
Ecuador
20
Bruno Guimaraes
Newcastle
Brazil
Best Midfielders in the world image gallery
20 Bruno Guimaraes, Brazil and Newcastle
The Magpies had to make a huge investment in their team when Newcastle’s takeover was first finalised in 2021. After a little more than three years, this buy is most likely their greatest to date. Bruno Guimaraes has received nothing but praise for his performances in the renowned black and white at St. James’ Park.
For a long time, there have been rumours that the Brazilian will depart the team to pursue greater opportunities. However, despite these rumours, the number 39 has remained in place and his love has not diminished. As Eddie Howe’s team strives for a return to Europe’s top tournament, he keeps getting better.
19 Moises Caicedo, Ecuador and Chile
During his first season wearing Chelsea’s colours, Moises Caicedo received a lot of criticism. His young shoulders were expected to immediately tighten up a leaky Blues midfield because he was the most expensive signing in the league’s history.
Even though the Ecuador destroyer had a difficult start to life at Stamford Bridge, he improved his performances significantly towards the close of the previous season. Caicedo has been a mainstay of Enzo Maresca’s new management at the club. He has improved steadily in west London, locking down the midfield and scoring a goal against Manchester United in one of his best performances as he attempts to gradually pay back the £115 million that was paid for him with interest.
18 Barella, Nicolo
Italy and Inter
One of the greatest midfielders in the world, Nicolo Barella has played a significant role in Inter Milan’s recent success. Barella was a mainstay when Inter won Serie A in 2023–24 and advanced to the Champions League final in 2023.
Alongside Jorginho and Marco Verratti, the 27-year-old started the final in the engine room, contributing to Italy’s victory at Euro 2020. Even though Barella might not be joining the Premier League anytime soon, the midfielder has repeatedly shown that he is a top player in Serie A and Europe, playing as a vital cog in the engine room while others score goals and provide assists.
17 Xhaka Grandit
Leverkusen Bayer and Switzerland
Many Arsenal supporters would not have believed you if you had said five years ago that Granit Xhaka would be one of the world’s top midfielders and an unbeatable Bundesliga champion. However, since joining Bayer Leverkusen, the Swiss international has been nothing short of exceptional.
The former Premier League star has become as a vital member of Die Werkself’s midfield under Xabi Alonso’s guidance, leading them to both the league title and the DFB-Pokal with some incredible performances along the road. Additionally, Bukayo Saka’s late equaliser and following penalty shootout saved Switzerland from advancing to the Euro 2024 semi-finals. Even though Leverkusen might not be as dominant this season, Xhaka is still contributing as they try to stay ahead of the chase.
16 Luka Modric
Croatia and Real Madrid
Without Luka Modric, what would the ranking of the best midfield players be? Since joining Real Madrid from Tottenham, the Croatian has been the team’s beating heart. His ability to halt Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s dominance to win the Ballon d’Or in 2018 is a testament to his talent and the respect he is given.
Modric has led what is perhaps Croatia’s most successful national team in addition to winning six Champions League titles with Los Blancos. As his nation advanced to the 2018 World Cup final and the 2022 semifinals in Qatar, he has managed games virtually alone. As he watches his playing time at the Bernabeu diminish, one of the greatest midfielders of all time stands in the bottom half of this list because age is finally starting to catch up with him. The former Spurs star turned 39 in September.
15Dani Olmo
Barcelona and Spain
a Euro 2024 star. When Pedri sustained an injury in the quarterfinal match against Germany and was declared out for the remainder of the tournament, many fans were worried. However, Dani Olmo made a great contribution to his nation, so there was no need to fear.
The playmaker had been among the Bundesliga’s best midfielders for a number of years, so it shouldn’t have been shocking. Olmo’s brilliant vision and smooth dribbling make him a terror for opposing midfielders and defenders. Along with five other players, the 26-year-old impressively won the Euro 2024 Golden Boot, which facilitated his summer transfer to Barcelona. Despite the constant distractions of registration problems, he has also been able to carry over his summer success into the beginning of current season, as he has five goals in 11 La Liga games thus far, unlike his teammate Fabian Ruiz.
14
Joshua Kimmich, Germany and Bayern Munich
Joshua Kimmich is an essential part of the Allianz Arena’s machinery since he leads Bayern Munich and has a no-nonsense attitude. The German international is used as a holding midfielder or a right-back and excels in both positions, but since assuming the management position, Vincent Kompany has chosen to use him in the engine room.
Since joining the team from Stuttgart in 2015, he has made over 400 appearances for the Bavarian powerhouses, demonstrating his importance. However, his versatility for both club and nation restricts how high he can rank among out-and-out midfielders in this list. His future in Bavaria is still up in the air, and Vincent Kompany’s team would suffer a devastating blow if he were to go.
13 Spain and PEDRI Barcelona
It’s possible that Barcelona has finally discovered a long-term replacement for Andres Iniesta after years of looking. Pedri, who was acquired from Las Palmas in 2019, has become Spain’s next big thing, and it’s easy to understand why the excitement is warranted given the impact he is already having on his team.
He feels like a La Masia product because to his smooth feet and deft passing, and it’s safe to assume that he is not just Barcelona’s midfield’s future but also Spain’s. Prior to suffering a regrettable injury, Pedri was a vital member of Spain’s midfield, which ultimately won Euro 2024. In the 2024–25 season, he has started all but two Barcelona games after recovering in time to become a vital member of Hansi Flick’s team.
12Bruno Fernandes
Manchester United and Portugal
The work of Bruno Fernandes is just amazing. Having scored over ten goals in each of his five seasons at United, the Portugal star’s greatest attribute is his reliable output. In just 37 Premier League games in 2020–21, he recorded 18 goals and 11 assists, his finest season to date.
Fernandes has emerged as a leader for this United team and is among the best in terms of numbers alone. Despite only being in the league for six years, he ranks sixth in all Premier League big chances created. He has a knack for a killer pass and is always willing to try something new in an attempt to score. There’s no need to search any farther for a goal-scoring midfielder of the modern era than the Portuguese sensation, who has also been predicted to become a manager.
11 Eduardo Camavinga France and Real Madrid
The Swiss Army Knife of Real Madrid is Eduardo Camavinga. The Frenchman has been a playmaking left-back, a box-to-box runner, and a holding midfielder. No matter where he is on the pitch, the left-footed great can dictate the pace of games thanks to his exceptional technical skill.
Even at the age of 22, Camavinga has a lot of untapped potential. With Luka Modric nearing the end of his top-tier career and Toni Kroos retiring, he will need to perform even better for Los Blancos in the upcoming years. When N’Golo Kante puts up his boots for France, the young player will also have large shoes to fill on the international front. No one questions Camavinga’s ability to fill those shoes with ease, which is the greatest compliment he can receive.
10 Alexis Mac Allister, Argentina and Liverpool
