Greatest midfielders of all time

Midfielders are the backbone of any team’s training in center field. They can effectively build any attack from the opponent’s side. In addition, they have also helped break down the defense of any opponent. Not only do they help the strikers and forwards, but they also take long-range shots right into the crossbar. Now there are several different positions a midfielder can play. A midfielder can act in several positions, from box-to-box to deep, depending on the final formation. And here are the best football midfielders in the world right now.

Midfielders in football

The next line in defense is the midfielders. Halfbacks are placed between the strikers and defenders, and their playing role changes depending on the situation and strategy towards attack and defense. Their traditional numbers are 6-8.

The central midfielder gathers all the qualities typical for this position. They are endurance, strength, high speed, reading the game, good interception, leading, and passing skills. His main task is to catch the ball and from the first movement start the attack. Because of the breadth of capabilities of this type of midfielder in football, they are distinguished by the following types:

• The defensive midfielder. He is also a wave cutter, shuttlecock, wheeler, or lock. His specificity is defense, namely blocking and pressing attacking players before they meet defenders. They can also intercept the ball and organize a counterattack. All this requires a player of incredible endurance, physical development, and technical expertise. The best holding midfielders are Dunga, Gilberto Silva, and Claude Makelele.
• Attacking midfielder. He creates scoring chances to ensure a goal or he can strike on his own. In certain tactical schemes, the role of the attacking midfielder is combined with the tangential striker, which led to the term “dispatcher” and “number ten.” Because the position of this player on the court has the ability to act independently and to make a wide range of passes. The best midfielders in this position are Kaká, Zico, Pelé, and Michel Platini. There is also the concept of the false ten.
• The suspended playmaker. A playmaker in football is a creator of the game. His job is to set up his team’s offense while playing at the position of full-back but not intercepting the ball. Players who play in this position are midfielders such as Xabi Alonso, Andrea Pirlo, and Josep Guardiola.

Top 7 best midfielders of all time

Midfielders have been one of the central point guard positions since the beginning of international football. From Zidane to Ronaldinho, some of the best soccer midfielders of all time were in this position in their prime. And here are the best midfielders of all time as of 2021.

№1 Toni Kroos

Real Madrid currently has their own supporting midfielder, which is Toni Kroos. In Germany, Kroos gradually grew into a high-class midfielder, whose distinctive abilities were the ability to read and lead the team’s game. The German does not have to run much on the field — his ability to be in the right place and give a precise pass is irreplaceable for any club in the world. It is safe to say that Bayern made a mistake by selling the player for just 25 million euros. In the national team the player is also in a leading role, and with it he became world champion in 2014.

№2 N’Golo Kanté

The French holding midfielder was a revelation in 2015 with his team, Leicester City, which sensationally won the English championship. N’Golo Kanté has often been ranked among the best central midfielders of all time. The following season the player moved to Chelsea, where he again won the Premier League and was recognized as the best player of the team and the championship. As part of the national team, he won silver at Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup. All of these club and national team successes would not have been possible without N’Golo Kanté, who is celebrated for his flawless play in every part of the football field.

№3 Michael Carrick

This footballer belongs among the famous soccer midfielders. Michael spent most of his career with Manchester United and won every trophy possible with them. Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United had many great players, but Michael’s name is not mentioned very often. Carrick can be classified as a “workhorse,” doing a lot of hard work and being able to connect to attacks when needed.

№4 Roy Keane

Another Manchester United midfielder from the Sir Alex era. He was arguably one of the toughest players in the world. His most famous act took place in a match against Manchester City when Roy took revenge on his old adversary so that the latter had to end his career. In addition to opponents, Roy Keane was also sharp with his own teammates. He is on the list of the best midfielders in soccer. We still hear some tough quotes from him, for example, directed at the Mancunians’ goalkeeper David De Gea.

№5 Xabi Alonso

Wherever Xabi Alonso played, he was a real key figure at his club. The footballer worked with various famous coaches such as Benítez, Mourinho, and Guardiola. The midfielder was an inseparable link between defense and offense. His goals and assists from the center of the field delighted the viewer. And his number of trophies may be the envy of any footballer. Now Alonso coaches the second team of Real Sociedad.

№6 Gennaro Gattuso

The sportsman is among the top midfielders in soccer. Gennaro Gattuso held the position of full-back at Milan for a long time during the best days of Italian Serie A. Watching him play, fans coined the player’s nickname “The Watchdog,” for his relentless play in winning back the ball. The Gattuso-Pirlo link-up was one of the strongest in the league at the time. In Milan, the player twice won the Champions League and the Italian championship. In 2012 he moved to Sion, where he spent his last season as a player. The player is now the coach of Napoli.

№7 Michael Essien

The Ghanaian midfielder has been noted for his good physical attributes since the beginning of his career, which allowed him to become one of the best in the English Premier League in his position. During his career, he won the French championship, the English championship, and the Champions League.