In brief
Over the years, there have been many outstanding midfield players in football, and the question of who is the best is always up for debate.
With players like Luka Modric, Xavi Hernandez, and Andres Iniesta among the greatest in the game, the current age has seen some legendary talents at the height of their careers.
Most people agree that Zinedine Zidane, a former star of Real Madrid and Juventus, is the best central midfield player since 1990.
The best midfielders of all time are a topic of intense discussion, with fans holding a wide range of views. As with nearly everything in football, it will always be a subjective issue, but there are some things that can be taken into account.

Lothar Matthaus, Xavi Hernandez, Andrea Pirlo, and Zinedine Zidane are all good choices. However, there are also many Premier League greats to take into account, led by players like Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, and even Kevin De Bruyne at this stage.

Going through it and just naming the best is rather simple. But when it comes to actually separating the best of the best, well, that’s where it gets difficult. However, 35 of the best central midfielders in recent memory are ranked by GIVEMESPORT.

Factors that rank
Due to the extreme polarisation of this list, a number of ranking criteria will be considered. These consist of:

The Ballon d’Or, World Player of the Year, Golden Foot, or a league’s player of the season are examples of personal honours.
Major trophies won: This only includes the two major European competitions, league titles, and the primary domestic cup.
Impact and influence on the game: Notable goals or performances in crucial league games or cup finals.
Their tactical contribution to the team’s overall performance is what makes them important.
Iconic moments – Goals or signature celebrations in important moments.
35-31
Modern Manchester City greats appear

Since moving from his childhood club, Penarol, to Real Madrid in 2016, Federico Valverde has become one of the world’s top central midfielders. He has already won La Liga three times and the Champions League twice while playing for the Spanish powerhouses. Valverde, who is still very much in his prime, will be hoping for additional awards down the road. Three years older, Joshua Kimmich is recognised as one of the world’s top midfielders because of his versatility and tactical awareness. He has also won the Champions League.

Despite only being in his early 20s, Jude Bellingham seems to have been around for decades. His career path has been nothing short of extraordinary since he made his Birmingham City debut in 2019. Regardless of playing a deeper or more offensive midfield role, he has maintained remarkable form since winning La Liga and the Champions League in the 2023–24 season with 23 goals.

Fernandinho and Ilkay Gundogan are the other two names on this list. Both midfield players are seasoned pros who won numerous domestic championships with Manchester City while being coached by legendary Pep Guardiola. While Fernandinho just returned to Brazil to play for Athletico Paranaense, he is nearing his 40th birthday and has no club. Gundogan is now back in east Manchester, hoping to continue the good times.

Top Central Midfield Players, Ages 35–31

Rank

Name

Nation

Total Games

Objectives

Helps

35.

Valverde Federico

Uruguay

443

40

36

34.

Kimmich, Joshua

Germany

642

62

152

33.

Fernandinho

Brazil

918

110

108

32.

Bellingham, Jude

England

297

68

59

31.

Gundogan Ilkay

Germany

729

136

86

30–21
Bastian Schweinsteiger, Rodri, and Paul Pogba are featured.

Over his career, Paul Pogba has been a little erratic, but there have also been moments when he appeared to be nearly unplayable. The former Manchester United player, whose four-year sporting ban was shortened to 18 months in March 2025, just before his 32nd birthday, is arguably talented enough to have placed higher on this list because of his admirable passing range and overall confidence, but he failed to do it consistently. Before his twilight years were marred by injuries, which have also beset Pogba, Bastian Schweinsteiger was one of Germany’s top midfielders.

In contrast, Michael Essien, Roy Keane, and Claude Makelele are all known for being reliable holding midfielders. Three of the best football passers the world has ever seen are Mesut Ozil, Cesc Fabregas, and Xabi Alonso. The three were the greatest in the business at dominating games from the heart of the pitch and were outstanding at holding onto possession for their respective teams. Being among the players with the most international assists in the twenty-first century is a testament to Ozil’s unwavering inventiveness.

Top Central Midfield Players, 30–21

Rank

Name

Nation

Global Games

Global Objectives

Foreign Assistance

30.

Pogba, Paul

France

514

87

105

29.

Schweinsteiger, Bastian

Germany

627

78

113

28.

Wesley Sneijder

The Netherlands

575

154

145

27.

Essien, Michael

Ghana

544

58

22

26.

Claude Makelele

France

807

24

28

25.

Alonso Xabi

Spain

695

43

69

24.

Cesc Fabregas

Spain

737

125

214

23.

Mesut Ozil

Germany

642

114

222

22.

Frank Rijkaard

The Netherlands

545

97

54

21.

Keane, Roy

Republic of Ireland

612

77

44

20-11
Toni Kroos, Sergio Busquets and Yaya Toure feature

Before retiring at the age of 34, Toni Kroos played a significant role in the all-conquering Real Madrid team for many years. Although Juan Roman Riquelme is frequently disregarded and underappreciated nowadays, the Argentine was breathtaking to witness at the height of his abilities and is appropriately ranked highly on the list. He moves at the same captivating but unimpressive pace as the German.

Despite having very distinct characteristics, Sergio Busquets and Yaya Toure went on to become two of the most significant individuals ever seen in the park. They both had high football intelligence, but when Toure was in his element, he was an unstoppable force, whereas Busquets at his best let the ball do the majority of the work.

Paul Scholes and Frank Lampard rate highly on the list. Both English midfielders have advantages over one another. Lampard is the team’s better goal scorer and finisher, while Scholes controlled play for the greatest team in Premier League history with unparalleled technical skill and passing range. Since Steven Gerrard is ranked in the top 10 for his outstanding club and national performances, he is the only player remaining from one of the most heated disputes in English football.

This section also includes Rodri, a conductor for Manchester City and Spain who is rightfully considered one of the greatest central midfielders in Premier League history. With good reason, the defensive midfielder took home the 2024 Ballon d’Or. The Spanish player was the most vital member of Man City’s all-conquering squad prior to his injury. After Spain defeated England in the final to win the renowned European Championship trophy in Berlin, Rodri, who was essential for his nation as well, rightfully got the Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament honour.

20-11’s Top Central Midfield Players

Rank

Name

Nation

Total Games

Objectives

Helps

20.

Kroos, Toni

Germany

868

90

187

19.

Riquelme, Juan Roman

Argentina

464

127

103

18.

Toure Yaya

The Ivory Coast

626

103

70

17.

Kante N’Golo

France

563

33

40

16.

Vieira, Patrick

France

650

56

72

15.

Busquets, Sergio

Spain

744

18

47

14.

Pirlo, Andrea

Italy

756

73

133

13.

Rodri

Spain

490

37

39

12.

Scholes, Paul

England

551

177

147

11.

Lampard, Frank

England

896

268

171

10-6

Clarence Seedorf, Luka Modric and Kevin De Bruyne feature

The classic Kaka is making its way into the top 10. In 2007, just before the Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo era began, the elusive offensive midfielder won the Ballon d’Or. He plays a key position in the successful AC Milan team of the 2000s and is regarded as one of Brazil’s greatest players ever. Clarence Seedorf, his old colleague, is also accompanying him. As an incredible feat in and of itself, the Dutchman is still the only player to win the Champions League with three different clubs. He did so twice with AC Milan in 2003 and 2007, once with Real Madrid in 1998, and once with Ajax in 1995.

The list of the greatest players in Premier League history includes Kevin De Bruyne and the previously mentioned Steven Gerrard. The former would compete with anyone in that sense and is among the best technicians we have ever seen in world football. The magnificent Belgian playmaker has a knack for creating opportunities for his teammates, regardless of whether they are left-footed or right-footed.

Just missing out on a spot in the top five was Michael Laudrup. The first European Cup for Barcelona and five La Liga titles—four with the Blaugrana and one with their bitter rivals, Real Madrid—were among his remarkable 16 trophies during his stellar career. With 37 goals from midfield, Laudrup is only three goals short of finishing in the top four and is sixth on Denmark’s all-time goalscoring list.

Top Central Midfield Players 10–6

Rank

Name

Nation

Total Games

Objectives

Helps

10.

Kaka

Brazil

648

205

173

9.

De Bruyne, Kevin

Belgium

747

183

308

8.

Seedorf, Clarence

The Netherlands

870

128

126

7.

Gerrard, Steven

England

749

191

172

6.

Laudrup, Michael

Denmark

671

169

64

Greatest central midfielders image gallery

5Lothar Matthaus

1978–2000

Lothar Matthaus, one of Germany’s greatest players ever, won the Ballon d’Or in 1990. He has an amazing 20 trophies to his name and won the FIFA World Cup with his nation that same year. Those awards include a Serie A championship at Inter Milan and seven Bundesliga crowns with Bayern Munich.

At the beginning of his illustrious career, Matthaus and Germany also won the European Championship in 1980. When talking about the best players in the game, the former captain of the national team is probably underappreciated. Perhaps this is a result of recency bias, but Matthaus’s contributions to his clubs and to Germany’s international team are undeniable.

Lothar Matthaus’s Professional Accomplishments

Statistics

Number/Accolade

Played games

935

Objectives

227

Helps

80

Wins of major awards

Champions League, World Cup, Euros, Bundesliga (x7), and Serie A

Significant personal honours

German Footballer of the Year, FIFA World Player of the Year, and Ballon d’Or (x2)

4Andres Iniesta

2000–Present

For Barcelona and Spain, Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez forged a strong alliance. For a number of years, they were perhaps the greatest midfield team in the world because they were a perfect match. At 39 years old, Iniesta is still going strong and is presently working in the United Arab Emirates.

In his remarkable career, the former Barcelona player has won an incredible 40 trophies, 32 of which were in the Catalan city. During Spain’s heyday, Iniesta also enjoyed considerable success with the country. The small playmaker scored the game-winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final to defeat the Netherlands, and he was a mainstay of the team that won three straight major international championships between 2008 and 2012.

The Professional Accomplishments of Andres Iniesta

Statistics

Number/Accolade

Played games

1,011

Objectives

106

Helps

192

Wins of major awards

Champions League (x4), World Cup, Euros (x2), and La Liga (x9)

Significant personal honours

Best Midfielder of the Year in La Liga (x5)

3Xavi Hernandez

1997–2019

Xavi was a key member of those illustrious Barcelona and Spain teams alongside Iniesta. His positioning was flawless, as was his knowledge of the game and when to pass and keep the ball. During his remarkable career, the midfield maestro, like Iniesta, earned an incredible number of titles.

With Barcelona, Xavi won 25 of his 32 trophies, including eight La Liga titles and four Champions League championships. His impact on the game has been enormous, and many players have attempted to improve their own skills by studying the proud Catalan’s style of play. As a Barcelona and Spain great, Xavi is rightfully considered to be among the best three.

Xavi’s Professional Accomplishments

Statistics

Number/Accolade

Played games

1,061

Objectives

123

Helps

241

Wins of major awards

Champions League (x4), World Cup, Euros (x2), and La Liga (x8)

Significant personal honours

La Liga Best Midfielder of the Year and World Soccer Player of the Year (x3)

2Luka Modric

2003 – present

One may argue that Luka Modric is the best Croatian footballer of all time. That is quite tremendous honour considering the excellent players they have had over the years. His nearly 800 club outings over the past 24 years demonstrate his longevity and drive to stay at the top.

Although the midfield guru has won six European championships with Real Madrid, his performances for Croatia in the 2018 World Cup, when his team placed second, put a stop to Messi and Ronaldo’s stranglehold of the Ballon d’Or. That same year, he was named the best football player in the world.

Luka Modric’s Professional Accomplishments

Statistics

Number/Accolade

Played games

1019

Objectives

118

Helps

167

Wins of major awards

La Liga (x4) and the Champions League (x6)

Significant personal honours

Ballon d’Or (2018)

1Zinedine Zidane

1989–2006

Only one person can be considered the best central midfield player of all time, and that distinction belongs to Zinedine Zidane, a truly rare player. The Frenchman, who is regarded as one of the football players that quit too early, was more of an artist than an athlete. Given his enormous 6′ 2″ physique, he appeared to defy gravity as he glided around the pitch.

Both personally and with his squad, Zidane earned every possible victory in the game. He even scored the game-winning goals in the 1998 World Cup final against Brazil and, in the 2002 final against Bayer Leverkusen, what is probably the best Champions League goal ever. Being the top large game player in the world, he thrived on every platform and is deservedly considered the best in his field.

Zinedine Zidane’s Professional Accomplishments

Statistics

Number/Accolade

Played games

798

Objectives

156

Helps

172

Wins of major awards

Serie A (two), the Champions League, the World Cup, the Euros, and La Liga

Significant personal honours

Serie A Footballer of the Year, Ligue 1 Player of the Year, FIFA World Player of the Year (three times), and Ballon d’Or