10 best midfielders in the world right now (November 2018)

The world of football is constantly changing and shifting. New players are consistently rising, and old players are retiring all the time. Over the years, we have seen many incredible players playing in all positions. These players have been active for both club and country, showcasing their talents in both an individual and team capacity.

While each position on the field is essential, the powerhouse of any good team is in the midfield. Whether it is for defence or attack, midfielders play an integral part in any team’s setup. A good midfielder handles winning back the ball, dictating play on the pitch, as well as setting up goal scoring opportunities. A hallmark of any good team is having brilliant players in the midfield.

Each midfielder has unique abilities and traits which make them talented in their own right. With that said, putting together a list of the best midfielders playing in the world today was a difficult task. In each league, some standout players come to mind. In each team, there is competition among players about who is the best.

With age often comes skill. With that said, the youngest player in our ranking is 26, while the oldest is 33 years old. The players included are in their prime and are worthy of inclusion in the ranking

Before we begin, it is worth mentioning some talented players who did not make the list. Jorginho (Chelsea); Marco Asensio (Real Madrid); Richarlison (Everton); Paul Pogba (Manchester United); Thiago Alcantara (Bayern Munich); Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona); and Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain) were all considered. The above players have proved their consistency, talent and impressed in recent months.

Now that we have mentioned a few notable candidates let us take a look at the top ten midfielders in football.

#10 Ivan Rakitic

In tenth place, is Barcelona central-midfielder Ivan Rakitic. The Croatian has continued to prove his worth ever since his move from Sevilla in 2014. He is a wonderful conductor of the ball; dictating play and setting up goal-scoring opportunities for his club countless times.

Rakitic is an underrated midfielder. Yet, his composure on the ball and his consistency make him worthy of an inclusion on this list. The retirement of Barcelona legends Xavi and Andres Iniesta left a hole in the heart of the team. Yet, Rakitic’s high-energy play has contributed to the fact that Barcelona have remained one of the best sides in the world.

Rakitic has won the Champions League once and the league three times in his career. He has scored 47 goals and got 52 assists in 264 La Liga appearances thus far.

#9 Casemiro

In ninth place, is Real Madrid defensive-midfielder Casemiro. Many would describe Casemiro as one of the most unsung defensive midfielders in the game. The Brazilian’s style involves holding up the ball in the middle of the park. This aids Real Madrid’s back four, ensuring that attack-minded players can move further up the pitch.

Casemiro has long been overshadowed by his Real Madrid teammates. He made a transfer from Porto to only to be placed in the Los Blancos reserves. Although he may not be as technical as some of his teammates, Casemiro covers a great deal of ground on the pitch.

Casemiro has won the Champions League four times with Real Madrid and has won the FIFA Club World Cup on two occasions. He has scored 15 goals and created 12 in his 168 appearances for Real Madrid.

#8 Isco

In eighth place on the list is another Real Madrid superstar who is one of the youngest players in our ranking. Isco is an attacking-midfielder whose playing style make him a brilliant dribbler. The Spaniard possesses the technical ability to play short passes and through balls.

Some of the greatest Spanish midfielders have come to the end of their careers in recent years. Yet, Isco marks the dawn of a new generation of technical midfielders. Attacking and playmaking are his chief interests. Isco not only has brilliant awareness but also the ability to instigate an attack out of any area in the final third.

Like Casemiro, Isco has won the Champions League four times and has won the FIFA Club World Cup three times. He has scored 47 goals and obtained 46 assists in 238 appearances in the La Liga.

#7 Sergio Busquets

The seventh midfielder on the ranking is Barcelona’s vital defensive-midfielder, Sergio Busquets. Busquets may be the bedrock of the popular La Liga side in the last decade. Emerging from the Barca academy, Busquets has acted as a screen for Barcelona’s centre-backs. He has also been an extra passing option for the team’s tiki-taka style of play.

The number 5 is possibly the best reader of the game in recent times. This trait makes him a tactical and playmaking genius whether his team is on or off the ball. Busquets might be the greatest servant of the game. This is because of playing his whole career as a second-fiddle to many of Barcelona’s other stars.

The Spaniard is a FIFA World Cup winner in 2010 and European champion in 2012. Busquets has also won the Champions League three times and won the La Liga seven times.

#6 David Silva

In sixth place is the Spainish attacking-midfielder magician from Manchester City. It’s difficult to notice the importance of David Silva until he’s taken off the pitch. His vision for effective gameplay and his brilliant ability to play the right pass make Silva a great player. His wonderful touch on the ball makes the City man one of the most effective midfielders alive today.

Silva's transfer from Valencia to Manchester City in 2010 was impactful to say the least. The English side finished in the top four that season and the club's success accelerated. Although the playmaker’s height might be a concern, he possesses phenomenal balance and dribbling ability.

Silva has won the FIFA World Cup with Spain once and has won the Premier League title three times while at Man City. He has scored 68 goals and got 118 assists in 361 appearances for the club.

#5 N’Golo Kante

In fifth place is one of the most hardworking men in modern football. Known for his time at Leicester City and now playing for London side Chelsea, N'Golo Kante is in a class of his own. One of Kante’s chief characteristics is his ability to cover ground on the pitch. This trait helps him win back the ball through tackles or interceptions.

No one comes close to Kante with his ability to win back possession in the blink of an eye. The Frenchman is a delight to watch when he dismantles the opposing team's attack.

Kante has won the FIFA World Cup once in 2018 with France and has won the Premier League twice. This is an amazing achievement since he has only played English football since the second-half of 2015.

#4 Toni Kroos

In fourth place is one of the most complete central midfielders in world football. The German and Real Madrid maestro Toni Kroos has one of the best minds in football. Barcelona legend Xavi hailed Kroos as his successor since his position allows him to dictate play from anywhere on the pitch.

Kroos has brilliant passing accuracy as well as the ability to read the potential of sequential moves in a game. He is an excellent conductor, as well as an incredibly versatile player. Kroos has excellent set-piece ability. But, his skills were not exercised due to playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.

Not only is Toni Kroos a FIFA World Cup winner with Germany, but he is a four-time Champions League winner. Kroos has been vital to Real Madrid’s European success in the past few years.

#3 Eden Hazard

In third place is Eden Hazard – an attacking winger who has emerged along with a new generation of Belgian talent. Hazard is a wonderful player to watch for his exceptional dribbling ability. His quick-thinking on the ball in tight spaces allow for him to squeeze past defenders with ease.

The Chelsea number 10 has the ability to cut inside on the edge of the box and fire shots towards goal. The Belgian is a nightmare for most goalkeepers he comes up against. Not only is Hazard fast, but he is also well-balanced on the ball. His creative and technical style allows for Chelsea to attack the opposition with ease.

Eden Hazard has won the Premier League on two occasions with London-side Chelsea. He has scored 97 goals and obtained 79 assists in 314 appearances for the club thus far.

#2 Kevin De Bruyne

With one spot away from the best midfielder in world football, we fix our attention on another Belgian midfield sensation. Kevin De Bruyne has performed impressively for both club and country. The attacking-midfielder has brilliant passing and crossing ability. Also, his swashbuckling, playmaking style, as well as his shots from distance, make him a threat.

With Pep Guardiola’s side known for their high rate of possession, De Bruyne lies at the heart of the squad. His incredible stamina allow him to dictate play throughout the entire game. Not only can the Belgian create chances in the final third, but he is able to build an attack from deep within his own half.

Kevin De Bruyne has won trophies in England, Germany and Belgium. He has scored 35 goals and obtained 57 assists in his 147 appearances for Manchester City.

#1 Luka Modric

Luka Modric is the best midfielder playing today

Last but not least, is a player who has impressed for many years. His class and talent have only been noted in recent times. The media has overshadowed Real Madrid central-midfielder Luka Modric in exchange for his high pedigree teammates. Yet, the Croatian captain has not had a significant slump of form in recent memory.

What separates Modric from the rest of midfielders playing today is his exquisite passing ability. He has a knack for showing up in the dying embers of any game to turn it around in his team’s favour. The Croatian controls each game in which he plays. He possesses the ability to read and dictate moments with absolute ease. Modric is a wonderful contributor, meaning he is not inclusionary in his style. He allows other players the opportunity to involve themselves in the game.

Modric overcame both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to win Best FIFA Men’s Player of the Year in 2018 (before known as the FIFA Ballon d’Or). He has also won the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year Award and been a three-time winner of the FIFA Club World Cup. Modric captained the Croatian side that reached the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup.

If that isn’t enough, Modric has won the Champions League an unbelievable four times with Real Madrid.

Edited by Sripad