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In modern football, statistics of goals and assists have become the most significant pointers to a player's quality, end-product and success in the game. For this reason, midfielders like Kevin De Bruyne and Bruno Fernandes are revered worldwide for their ability to score outrageous goals and also make assists for their team-mates.
Many other midfielders have the quality but lack the end product required to really turn heads. This year, however, one such midfielder did so well that his brilliance for club and country could not be ignored. Chelsea and Italy midfielder Jorginho was named UEFA Men's Player of the Year after a stellar season despite having a limited number of goals and assists.
On that note, here is a list of five of Europe's best performers from midfield whose feats have been less celebrated so far this season:
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#5 Marcelo Brozovic
Inter Milan anchorman Marcelo Brozovic is one of the most underrated midfielders currently plying his trade in Europe. He played a starring role in the Nerazzurri's Scudetto triumph in the 2020-21 season, appearing 33 times for them.
Brozovic has carried the same performance levels into the new season under the new Inter manager Simone Inzaghi, starting all of the side's matches in Serie A. The 29-year-old Croatian has assisted one goal so far this season for Inter Milan.
All-action midfielder Brozovic has helped his side with his tidy passing, maintaining an accuracy of 91.2 per cent and winning 12 of 19 tackles in 12 league matches this season. A regular with the Croatian national team as well, Brozovic has been linked with a move to the Premier League recently, an indicator of the quality he possesses.
#4 Idrissa Gueye
Senegal and PSG midfielder Idrissa Gueye has surprisingly been one of the top performers for the French giants despite their superstar summer recruitment drive.
The 29-year-old made his name at Everton for his aggressive tackling and tenacity before moving to the Parc des Princes, where he continues to be a regular for PSG.
The Senegal international has added goals to his game this season. Notably, he has scored three goals in nine league appearances for the French giants and one in the Champions League so far. Gueye has also maintained an impressive 93.2 per cent passing accuracy and won 15 of 28 tackles he has attempted in the league.
#3 Fabian Ruiz
Napoli midfielder Fabian Ruiz has come a long way since moving to Italy from Real Betis. The 25-year-old has impressed in midfield for the Partenopei, earning him a place in the Spanish national team.
The midfield technician has struck up an impressive partnership with Cameroonian midfielder Andre Frank Zambo-Anguissa at the heart of the Napoli midfield. Ruiz's presence in midfield is part of the reason for Napoli's unbeaten start to the season and rise to the top of Serie A.
The Spaniard has already scored three goals and assisted two more in the Serie A this season, more than he contributed throughout the 2020-21 campaign. He has a 91.1 per cent passing accuracy in the league this season and has won 18 of his 24 tackles.
Rarely spoken about among elite midfield players in Europe, Ruiz is a key player for Napoli. Given his rapid improvement, he is likely to attain such a position with the Spain national team as well.
#2 Jordan Henderson
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson is a midfielder who divides opinion. Many feel the Englishman does not deserve the praise he gets, but the 31-year-old has continued to prove with his performances that he remains a key player for Liverpool.
Henderson's tactical discipline has been key to Liverpool's success in recent seasons. He has had to become a spare man in defense for Jurgen Klopp's Reds to allow Trent Alexander-Arnold to bomb forward with regularity. In attack, Henderson helps create an overload on the flank and provide an extra pair of legs.
The veteran midfielder scores the occasional worldie, but most of the time he just helps keep things ticking for his side. Henderson's importance in midfield cannot be overstated as Liverpool generally tend to struggle in his absence.
#1 Mateo Kovacic
Chelsea's Mateo Kovacic has been, without a doubt, one of Europe's best midfielders this season. The Croatian announced himself to Europe as a teenager with Inter Milan in Serie A before earning a move to Real Madrid.
Kovacic joined Chelsea on an initial loan move and played an important role in helping the club lift all three major European titles. Alongside N'Golo Kante and Jorginho in midfield, Kovacic has delivered some of the best performances of his career.
While his partners went on to receive great recognition (Kante was UEFA Midfielder of the Year and Jorginho was UEFA Men's Player of the Year), Kovacic remained under the radar. The Croatian has scored one and assisted five goals in the Premier League this season, while maintaining a 89.9 per cent passing accuracy.
The 27-year-old was undroppable for Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea before he picked up an injury. If he maintains his form after recovering from injury, it will definitely be time to include him in the conversation as one of the best midfielders in Europe.
