'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 Cesc Fabregas (Monaco)
In his prime, Cesc Fabregas was unarguably one of the finest attacking midfielders in the world. He was a key member of Spain's triumphant World Cup squad in 2010.
Trending
At his peak, he represented some of the biggest clubs on the continent, including Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea.
Fabregas was a delight to watch on his day, and there was no defence that could not be penetrated with his pristine through balls, while he was also a fairly decent goalscorer in his own right.
Having departed Chelsea in the summer of 2019, the former Spain international joined Ligue 1 side Monaco. Despite not being in the limelight again, he is still representing the Principality outfit to the best of his abilities, with 45 appearances made in all competitions.
#2 Andres Iniesta (Vissel Kobe)
Andres Iniesta granted himself immortality by scoring the winning goal in extra-time of the 2010 World Cup final to help Spain lift their first world title.
The former Barcelona captain is widely regarded by many as the greatest midfielder in history and rightly so. He redefined the role, with his pairing alongside Xavi catapulting club and country to previously unimagined heights.
The 36-year-old made 131 appearances for Spain before announcing his retirement after the 2018 World Cup. He was an ever-present as the Iberian nation transcended from perennial underachievers to arguably the greatest international side in history.
He spent 16 highly successful seasons with Barcelona and helped the club achieve what was its glorious era before departing in 2018, having won everything winnable on every stage.
He signed for J1 League side Vissel Kobe and has so far made 35 appearances in all competitions for the Japanese outfit, helping them to the Emperor's Cup and Japanese Super Cup.
#1 Lukas Podolski (Antalyaspor)
Unlike most of the players on this list, Lukas Podolski did not have too remarkable a club career. However, he always seemed to save his best for the international stage with Germany.
Nevertheless, he represented some elite sides like Bayern Munich and Arsenal, while spells were also taken in at Vissel Kobe, Galatasaray and hometown club FC Koln.
It was, however, with the German national team that he made his most telling impact, with 130 caps won between 2004 and 2017 - appearing at three World Cups - and scoring 49 goals in total.
His performance at the 2006 World Cup on home soil saw him named the Best Young Player at the tournament. Eight years later, he was one of the most experienced heads as Germany finally ended their 24-year wait for World Cup glory.
Having departed Vissel Kobe in 2019, Podolski signed a one-and-half-year contract with Turkish Super Lig side Antalyaspor in January 2020, and it is highly likely that this would be his last foray in club football.
