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#3 Frenkie de Jong | Barcelona
Since breaking onto the scene with Erik ten Hag's Ajax side that reached a UEFA Champions League semi-final, Frenkie de Jong has gone on to become one of the best midfielders in the world. The Dutchman has been one of Barcelona's most important players this season as they look to dethrone Atletico Madrid in LaLiga Santander.
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De Jong generally does play as a deep-lying midfielder, but this season he's also been deployed as a libero by his compatriot Ronald Koeman, and 23-year-old has excelled in this role as well. De Jong has registered more touches (2536) and progressive carrying distance (6904 yards) than any player in LaLiga this season, and his 197 passes into the final third and seven through balls are only bettered by four midfielders in Spain.
De Jong's ability to excel in deeper areas while also being able to drive the ball forward equally well makes him one of the most unique players in the league. He has more progressive carries (281) and carries into the final third (79) than anyone in LaLiga bar Leo Messi. De Jong has been a colossal player for the Blaugrana this season.
#2 Joshua Kimmich | Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich's treble-winning star Joshua Kimmich is arguably one of the best midfielders in the world at the moment. Kimmich took over Thiago Alcantara's number six shirt and the Spaniard's responsibilities for Bayern Munich this season and while they have different approaches to the game, the German has done a great job so far.
Slotting in next to a more physically imposing Leon Goretzka, Kimmich has pulled the strings for the German champions and has grown into the role admirably well. Among Bundesliga midfielders, Kimmich tops the charts for passes per 90 (68.8), progressive passes (174), passes into the final third (160), passes into the penalty area (50), most assists (ten), and key passes per 90 (2.5). He's also played more through balls than anyone in the Bundesliga with 11.
Kimmich is one of the most accomplished passers on this list and the German also covers a lot of ground for his side, putting in excellent defensive shifts. His ability to control games for the Bavarians from deeper areas has been priceless for them, particularly after losing Thiago to Liverpool last summer. At 26, Kimmich is one of the best deep-lying midfielders in Europe at the moment.
#1 Toni Kroos | Real Madrid
Real Madrid superstar Toni Kroos is one of the greatest midfielders of his generation. The metronomic German, along with teammate Luka Modric, has been an indispensable part of the Real Madrid squad that went on to complete the famous 'three-peat' of the UEFA Champions League under Zinedine Zidane.
Kroos' ability to control the tempo of the game and keep his side on top of proceedings is simply unparalleled. The German is capable of delivering any and every type of pass on the pitch and he is equally adept at spraying the ball around with either foot. His press-resistance helps him receive the ball under pressure and scan his surroundings with a clever touch or two before pinging the ball upfield.
Among midfielders in LaLiga Santander this season, Kroos has racked up the most number of assists (eight), key passes (63), passes into the final third (253), through balls (eight), and the best pass completion percentage with 93.5. Only Dani Parejo boasts more progressive passes than his 181, while only four midfielders took more touches than Kroos' 2220.
Many players in the past have heaped praise on Kroos in the past, but his teammate Casemiro summed up his importance to the side perfectly. The Brazilian expressed;
"If Toni wants the team to slow things down, the team will go a little slower – or if he wants to up the pace, the team will play a little faster. So basically, the way we play is determined by Toni Kroos."
The 31-year-old is, without a shadow of a doubt, the best deep-lying playmaker in Europe.
Also read: 5 Greatest big-game players in world football right now
