The best midfielders in football go far, literally. No other place in the game covers more than the field in a football match than a midfielder. Whether they’re blasting an attack in front of defense or setting a goal in attack, midfielders are the heart of the team. These 10 midfielders are considered among the best in football by fans and experts alike.
Arturo Vidal
Chilean Arturo Vidal has earned his reputation for being an excellent midfielder all over the world. He can defend, pass the ball with emphasis, and also break into the area to score important goals. Successful league title wins, Juventus won four Serie A titles, which saw him move to Bayern Munich in 2015. Vidal hasn’t stopped since then. He played for Chile in the 2014 World Cup and led the national team to the 2015 Copa América title. In July 2017, Inter Milan made a $57 million bid to lure Vidal away from Bayern.
- Teams : Chile, FC Bayern Munich
- Team Number: 8 (Chile) and 23 (Bayern Munich)
- Birthdate: May 22, 1987
David Silva
The tough frontiers of the Premier League do not seem ideally suited to the skills of the Spanish midfielder. But after a slow start following his move from Valencia to Manchester City in 2010, the playmaker has emerged as one of the best players in the league. In his time with Manchester United, Silva had one of the most important titles in the Premier League and Football Cup. The way he cuts through the Premier League books with these Incredibles with sharp balls and dribbles, it’s no wonder he has earned the nickname ‘Merlin’.
- Teams: Spain, Manchester City FC
- Team number: 21 (both teams)
- Date of Birth: January 8, 1986
Yaya Toure
Watching the Manchester City star through gears carrying the ball through midfield reminds us of Roy Keane or Patrick Vieira in his pomp. Yaya felt undervalued at Barcelona, but he has emerged as one of the key players in the City’s ambitious project. In FIFA play, Toure played for the Ivory Coast national team in 2014, 2010, and 2006 World Cups and has been named African Footballer of the Year for several times. He’s a tiger in the game and scores his fair share of goals more offensively than he used to.
- Teams: Ivory Coast, Manchester City
- Team Number: 19 (Ivory Coast), 42 (Manchester City)
- Date of Birth: May 13, 1983
Schweinsteiger Bastian
Bastian Schweinsteiger in Germany had 15 stellar years in international football before retiring in 2016 and moving to the United States, where he plays midfield for Chicago Fire. Schweinsteiger crowned his life in FIFA by sharing the 2014 World Cup title with his German counterparts. He also played for the two former German national teams in the World Cup, in addition to four European Championships.
- Teams: Germany, Chicago Fire
- Team Number: 7 (Germany), 31 (Chicago)
- Birthdate : August 1, 1984
Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba prefers to play in the middle of the field, where he can defend and attack himself. He’s a star player for Manchester United, who paid a record $89 million transfer fee to bring him back from Juventus, where he headed after leaving Manchester in 2012. While at Juventus, he led the team to four Serie A championships. Pogba played with the France national team in the 2014 World Cup in 2014, scoring a goal as the best young player.
- Teams: France, Manchester United
- Team number: 6 (both teams)
- Date of Birth: March 15, 1993
Andres Iniesta
Spain’s award-winning top scorer against the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup Final, midfielder Andres Iniesta is one of the country’s most beloved players and has survived the usually complicated reception Barcelona players receive when they visit Real Madrid. He’s an excellent player to play, excellent at connecting midfield and attack, and his play was excellent as Spain retained the European Championship in 2012.
- Teams: Spain, Barcelona
- Team Number: 6 (Spain) and 8 (Barcelona)
- Birthdate: May 11, 1984
Eden Hazard
One of the best wingers in the world, Eden Hazard has football in his blood. His father was a Belgian football star in his own right. Hazard is a defender’s nightmare and could tread at a similar pace in a similar way to Lionel Messi. His aggressive style of play helped Chelsea win the Premier League and League Cup in 2014-2015, for which he has won many awards.
- Teams: Belgium, Chelsea
- Team number: 10 (both teams)
- Birthdate: January 7, 1991
Luka Modric
Although Luke Modric’s career has been plagued by injuries in recent years, that hasn’t tarnished his reputation as one of the greats. His performance in the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup is one of the reasons why Real Madrid extended his contract until 2020. Modric may not score as many goals as he should have, but he makes up for it with a rhythm setting performance. Make it a valuable commodity in the world of football.
- Teams: Croatia and Real Madrid
- Team Number: 10 (Croatia), 19 (Real Madrid)
- Date of Birth: September 9, 1985
Cesc Fabregas
Cesc Fabregas is the heart of Chelsea’s midfield, known for his passing ability and stellar technique. Fabregas, a child star in his native Spain, came to the UK as a teenager in Arsenal’s academy squad in 2003 and found himself in the main squad for the 2004-05 season. He quickly distinguished himself but left in 2011 to play in Spain. Returning to Britain in 2014 to rival Arsenal Chelsea, he led the team to the Premier League title and League Cup in his first year.
- Teams: Spain, Chelsea
- Team Number: 10 (Spain), 4 (Chelsea)
- Birthdate: May 4, 1987
Arjen Robben
Arjen Robben has that killer combination of speed and skill that intimidates defenses. He also has an end product, with an impressive defeat record over the years. Injuries kept him out for two seasons (2015-17), but he signed a contract for the 2017-18 season with Bayern Munich, giving fans more time to see one of the game’s best midfielders.
- Teams: Netherlands and Bayern Munich
- Position: Forward (Netherlands), Midfielder (Bayern Munich)
- Team number: 10 (both teams)
- Date of Birth : January 23, 1984