10 best midfielders in Europe this season (2016/17)

Midfielders are the ones who run the game of football. They are crucial in setting up the style of play and controlling the flow of the game. These players are the link between attack and defence often playing defence-splitting passes and breaking up opposition play as and when required.

This season, all the top Europan Leagues have witnessed many amazing midfielders go about their business. All the best teams across Europe have that one player capable of making a difference at the centre of the field.

Without much ado, let us take a look at the 10 best midfielders in Europe this season:

#10 Emil Forsberg (RB Leipzig)

Voted Swedish midfielder of the year in 2014 and 2016, RB Leipzig winger, Emil Forsberg has been taking the Bundesliga by storm with his stunning and technically accomplished performances. The versatile winger is blessed with plenty of trickery, dribbling skills and excellent vision to pick out passes.

Also, one of the best set-piece takers in world football at the moment, Forsberg has been linked with plenty of top clubs across Europe thanks to his amazing performances this season.

With 7 goals and 12 assists in 23 Bundesliga appearances so far, Forsberg along with his Leipzig team-mate Naby Keita has been the standout player of this impressive Leipzig side and it will be interesting to see how the Swedish midfielder fares in the Champions League next season.

#9 Saul Niguez (Atletico Madrid)

One of the most talented young Spanish footballers in the world right now, Saul Niguez has been extremely consistent for Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid side this season. While the Rojiblancos have been slightly below their best in La Liga this time around, it is in the Champions League where Saul and Atletico have wowed the world with their excellent and solid displays.

The versatile 22-year-old has played a number of positions with equal aplomb and class for Atletico Madrid this year. Be it in a defensive midfielder position, winger or even as a playmaker, Saul has been the go-to man for Simeone whenever the going has got tough.

Continuously linked with a move to Manchester United, Atletico Madrid will be desperate to hold onto their prized asset for at least another season. Still only 22, Saul this season has shown that he has the ability and talent to become one of the game’s household names in the future.

#8 Marco Verratti (PSG)

Italy’s best midfielder at the moment, Paris Saint-Germain’s Marco Verratti has been consistently excellent once again this season. Capable of breaking up play and setting up attacks with equal ease, Verratti has recently been linked with a big money move to either Barcelona or Real Madrid.

Often compared to Andrea Pirlo, Verratti is known for his brilliant ball retention skills and his ability to pick out the right pass under pressure. Always ensuring that the ball keeps moving at the centre of the park, the Italian is probably PSG’s biggest and most important star.

Veratti’s brilliance and his standing among his peers can be seen from Xavi’s quotes:

"He's one of the best midfielders in the world, and plays a little bit in the same way as I tried to do with Barcelona and the national team. He likes having the ball. He also has perfect mastery over long and short passing, he can play the final ball, and he doesn't lose the ball that easily. He's really a very high-class player."

It will be truly interesting to see where the 24-year-old will be playing next season.

#7 Tiemoue Bakayoko (AS Monaco)

Monaco have been the standout team this season. Playing some brilliant and attacking football, Monaco have earned rave reviews and admiring glances right throughout Europe. While their attacking prowess led by Mbappe, Falcao and Bernardo Silva has rightly received plenty of plaudits, the man instrumental for their style of play is defensive midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko.

Standing well over 6 foot, the towering defensive midfielder’s biggest strength is his ability to break up opposition play and put in some stunning last ditch tackles. With 49 interceptions and 88% passing rate, Bakayoko has been the standout defensive midfielder not only in Ligue 1 but in Europe.

Blessed with excellent reading of the game and positional awareness, Bakayoko could well be plying his trade in the Premier League next season (Manchester United and Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing the 22-year-old).

#6 Miralem Pjanic (Juventus)

Bought by Juventus as a replacement for Paul Pogba, 26-year-old Miralem Pjanic has quickly settled into his role as the chief playmaker in this very impressive Juventus side. Gifted with amazing technical ability, playmaking skills and tactical versatility, Pjanic is also exceptional at taking free-kicks.

It is not often that a visiting team’s midfielder is the best midfielder on the pitch at Camp Nou. But, during Juventus’ momentous Champions League victory against Barcelona, Pjanic was arguably the best player on the pitch in the second leg.

Having settled in well at Turin, Pjanic is proving to be an upgrade on Pogba and that too at €73 million profit. With 6 assists, 5 goals and an incredible pass accuracy of 88%, Pjanic is definitely one of the best playmakers in world football at the moment.

#5 Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur)

Two-time PFA young player of the season and part of the PFA team of the year, Dele Alli has had a stunning season so far for Tottenham Hotspur. Having scored an incredible 16 goals in the Premier League, Alli along with Kane and Eriksen have made Tottenham genuine title contenders.

Considered to be one of the best midfielders in world football at the moment, many pundits think Alli has overtaken Pogba as the midfielder to watch out for in the Premier League. Dele Alli has been so inspirational this season that Pochettino thinks that the Englishman could become as good as Neymar in the future.

Speaking to beIN sports, Pochettino said:

“I think Dele Alli has a personality completely different maybe to Neymar. I think he’s a special player too. I don’t know if he’s in this level yet but the potential will be like him or better.”

He added: “I think Dele is an unbelievable player, great player, still very young and his potential is massive and we’ll see what happens. He has the potential to improve a lot.”

With Barcelona and Real Madrid both reportedly interested in signing the youngster, Tottenham will have to fight desperately to keep their prized asset in North London next season.

#4 Eden Hazard (Chelsea)

Chelsea superstar Eden Hazard has once again shown this season why he is so highly rated. Touted to be a future Ballon d’Or winner, Hazard has shown his class and has been the standout attacking player for Antonio Conte’s Chelsea this season.

Hazard’s stats this season have been absolutely outstanding in the Premier League. With 15 goals and 5 assists, the Belgian attacking midfielder has time and again popped up with important contributions in big matches.

Capable of beating opposition defenders with ease and setting up chances for team-mates, Hazard has made a Premier League high 66 key passes showing his importance to the Premier League leaders.

Real Madrid are said to be desperate to sign the 26-year-old and with the Belgian at the peak of his powers, the move could come to fruition in the summer transfer window. In fact, Madrid manager Zidane himself is a huge fan of Hazard. In an earlier interview, the French manager had said:

"Eden is technically gifted and very fast. He will be a major star in the future. I would take him to Real Madrid with my eyes closed."

Will Hazard become a future galactico? Only time will tell.

#3 Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)

Probably Real Madrid’ s most consistent player this season, Toni Kroos has arguably taken his game to new heights ever since he made the switch to Madrid from Bayern Munich. Calm, composed and always assured on the ball, Kroos is the conductor in the midfield who pulls the strings for the Spanish giants.

One of the best players in La Liga this season, the German has a League-high 11 assists so far and an incredible passing accuracy of 92%. Capable of picking out passes and spraying the ball across the field, the midfield maestro has been integral to Madrid’s impressive performances in the League and the Champions League.

Easily the best midfielder in La Liga at the moment, Kroos has completely outshone some illustrious names like Luka Modric, Andres Iniesta and Ivan Rakitic with his performances this season. Real Madrid will be hoping that the German pass master continues to perform at this very high level at the business end of the season.

#2 Thiago Alcantara (Bayern Munich)

Barcelona academy graduate Thiago Alcantara has really hit his straps this season. The Spaniard has been dictating play for Bayern Munich and he has often been the link between attack and defence for the Bundesliga champions.

The 26-year-old credited Ancelotti with getting the best out of him. Speaking in an interview with El Pais,

Thiago said: "Ancelotti has given me the freedom. More than strategy or tactics, it has been the freedom and confidence that a coach can give you. I need that because I like to analyse the game, to have tactical rigour, to read a game.”

In the Bundesliga this season, Thiago has shown just how complete his game his. Having contributed to the offensive side of the pitch with 5 goals and 5 assists so far, he has also made an incredible league-high 115 interceptions. With a 90% pass completion and 47 tackles so far, Thiago has been the most complete midfielder in world football this season.

Barcelona will be really regretting the fact that they let go of the talented Spaniard in 2013.

#1 N’golo Kante (Chelsea)

Crowned the PFA Player of the Year recently, N’golo Kante has been undoubtedly the best and most effective midfielder in the world this season. Poised to win back to back league titles with different clubs, the Frenchman has been a true revelation and he is finally getting the credit he deserves.

Kante’s ability to regain possession in the centre of the park has been vital, while his willingness to storm forward with the ball at his feet has created many openings for Chelsea this season. Kante’s positional sense and awareness of the game is second to none and he heads the list for the most interceptions in the Premier League this year.

Having greatly improved his attacking style of play as well under Antonio Conte, Kante has undoubtedly been the best midfielder in European football this season. The Frenchman is now truly recognised as a global superstar across the world.