Ranking the 10 best midfielders in the world

#1 Luka Modric (Real Madrid)

Madrid was recently named UEFA Player of the Year

Not many people would have predicted this in 2013 after he was voted as the worst signing in LaLiga history following his first season with Real Madrid. No one believes that now, and he benefitted greatly from the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti, and later Zinedine Zidane, as manager. Ancelotti allowed him the freedom to express himself in the middle of the park, and with Zidane, firstly as assistant manager, and then as number one, there aren’t many better men for a centre midfielder to learn from.

Modric may have peaked later than most, as he is currently 32, and this has potentially been his best year. He was the Golden Ball winner at the World Cup, and looks set to end the Messi and Ronaldo dominance over the Ballon d’Or. He has found his best position as sitting slightly deeper in the centre of the park, and dictating play. He may not always take the glory, particularly at club level, but without him in that Real Madrid team, they would not have had the same success that they have had over the last few years.