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Central Midfielder: N’golo Kante
Probably the best defensive midfielder in the World consistently for a few seasons now, N’golo Kante could stroll into any World XI any day of the week. He has the tenacity and the lungs within him to cover every blade of grass on the pitch and is excellent in what he does. His tackling, his interceptions and his covering are so natural that it is evident that he enjoys himself to the fullest on the football pitch.
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Kante was fabulous for Chelsea last season too and won the FA Cup for the Blues. In the summer, few players got the better of him in the 2018 World Cup and he was the pillar of France’s World Cup campaign. A change of things at Chelsea meant that there were doubts cast on the application of Kante’s qualities under new Manager Maurizio Sarri, however, Kante seems to have rediscovered himself in the new season and now has a goal-scoring edge to him.
As such, selecting N’golo Kante in the midfield in the Ballon d’Or XI does not require too much persuasion – the Frenchman belongs there and will thrive among his midfield partners.
Central Midfielder: Luka Modric
The reigning FIFA’s Best Men’s Player of the Year and the 2018 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball winner is also the front-runner for this year’s Ballon d’Or. Modric was phenomenal last season, winning the Club World Cup and Champions League with Real and taking Croatia to the Finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Even though the fairytale ending was not achieved against a ruthless French side, Modric won hearts all over the world.
He might be slow off the blocks this season, as Real continue to stutter, but there is no denying that Luka Modric is one of the greatest midfielders of his generation. In this midfield, Modric will be required to do a deeper lying job, but it is a position the Croatian thrives in and he will be orchestrating the proceedings for his teammates. Luka Modric is the midfield magician in the Ballon d’Or XI and will be the engine of the team.
Central Midfielder: Kevin De Bruyne
The rise of the Belgian has been nothing short of a fairytale, yet Kevin De Bruyne deserves all the credit in the world. He has fast developed into one of the best midfielders in the world and has rediscovered his game under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
He is the midfield general of the City side that won the League by reaching a record 100 points last season. De Bruyne mixes his technical abilities with a newfound tenacity that allows Guardiola to field two No. 10s in the midfield and the Belgian’s qualities seem to be getting better with every passing game.
De Bruyne was instrumental in Belgium’s run to the third position in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in the summer, however, he picked up an injury at the start of the new season which currently has him sidelined.
Even though he continues to recover, De Bruyne deserves to be a part of this team and along with Kante and Modric, can break down even the meanest defence in the World, especially since he will have the talent in front of him to make those fascinating passes to.
