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#7 Casemiro (Real Madrid)
Arguably the best defensive midfielder in the last 5 years, Casemiro has been a crucial part of Real Madrid's impressive start in La Liga under Carlo Ancelotti. An expert at breaking up play, Casemiro along with Luka Modric and Toni Kroos has helped Real Madrid dominate the midfield battle against most opponents.
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Carlo Ancelotti, in fact, called them the best midfield in world football at the moment. Speaking to Diario AS, Ancelotti said:
"Those three make up the best midfield in the world right now. Maybe the box-to-box midfielders are more what you think of, but Modric, Kroos and Casemiro have so much experience and are so good at the game that they are simply extraordinary.
"What’s more, it turns out they play so well together. When the three of them are together there’s nobody who can compare to them."
In a team full of superstars, Casemiro's contributions are often overshadowed. However, there is no denying Casemiro's importance to both Real Madrid and the Brazil national team.
#6 Jorginho (Chelsea)
Chelsea midfielder Jorginho has had a year to remember. Winner of the UEFA Champions League and Euro 2020 this year, Jorginho even finished 3rd in the Ballon d'Or 2021 list.
A brilliant passer of the ball, the Italian sets the tone of the game with his distribution and helps both Chelsea and Italy dictate the game from midfield. An excellent deep-lying playmaker, Jorginho's passing and crucial penalties helped both his club and national side win important trophies.
Adept at setting up attacks, Jorginho is one of the most important members of this brilliant Chelsea side under Thomas Tuchel. It will be interesting to see if the Italian will be able to continue his good form in 2022.
#5 Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
It almost seems like a crime to keep Joshua Kimmich at only #5 on this list. Since Thiago's departure to Liverpool, Kimmich has made the 'number 6' position his own at Bayern Munich.
Setting up goals and breaking up play with equal ease, Kimmich has been one of Bayern Munich's standout performers in 2021. The versatile midfielder seems to have settled in wonderfully at the deep-lying playmaker position under Nagelsmann at Bayern Munich.
Andrea Pirlo was the true master of this position. If Joshua Kimmich continues playing the same way, he could end up becoming as good as the legendary Italian.
#4 N'Golo Kante (Chelsea)
Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante is the man for the big occasion. Putting in his best performances during the UEFA Champions League knockout stages, Kante almost single-handedly neutralized Manchester City's brilliant midfield in the 2020/21 UCL final.
The Frenchman has struggled with some niggling injuries this year and could have been even higher on the list if he had stayed fit. A brilliant tackler, ball winner and an excellent team man, Kante's absence is felt acutely by Thomas Tuchel when he is missing through injury.
The French midfielder also has an excellent understanding with the likes of Jorginho and Mason Mount. Tuchel will be hoping his star man is fit for the crucial stages of this season.
