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#3 Pedri | FC Barcelona
Pedri has been the find of the season in La Liga. At 18, he's the youngest of all midfielders on the list alongside some world-class names. Since arriving from Las Palmas in July last year, Pedri has quickly established himself as one of the regular midfielders in Ronald Koeman's side. The rapid pace with which he has developed at such a young age is incredible to see. He's a player that ticks all the boxes of your standard Barcelona midfielders. Technically gifted, confident on the ball, and great at creating space.
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He's carried his La Liga form on the international stage as well. He was one of the first names on the team sheet for Spain as they reached the semi-finals of Euro 2020. Pedri was awarded as the Young Player of the tournament for his consistent display.
Currently, he's also representing his country at the Tokyo Olympics and is showcasing his talents on the world stage. He has a huge ceiling in terms of potential, and with age on his side, he will surely be competing with the world's best midfielders in the coming years.
#2 Marcos Llorente | Atletico Madrid
From 0 goals for Real Madrid to an insane attacking output for Atletico Madrid, Marcos Llorente has come a long way in his La Liga career. Diego Simeone was able to identify his attacking prowess and put it to good use. The first sighting of his offensive abilities was on display against Liverpool in the Champions League, when he scored twice to knock the defending champions out that season.
Since then, Llorente has been played all over the pitch by Simeone. From his obvious central midfield position to a right back, right winger, and even as a striker! It's not very common for midfielders. But surprisingly enough, he excelled in any position that he played in. That is a major reason why he racked up 12 goals and 11 assists for the La Liga champions in their run to the title. With his versatility, he definitely played a crucial role in his team's success in La Liga last term.
#1 Toni Kross | Real Madrid
Toni Kroos is one of the best midfielders of his generation, and the last La Liga season further laid claim to that. The ease and grace with which he controls games almost feels like he has the ball on a string. He plays a brand of simple, error-free and effective brand of football at his own pace that none of the other midfielders in the world could replicate. He has gone on to form a midfield trio with Modric and Casmerio running the midfield engine in La Liga and the Champions League.
Kroos is a cool customer in the middle of the park, controlling games with his hold-up play and incredible passing range. Offensively, he contributed significantly to Madrid's tally, with three goals and 11 assists in La Liga last term. But apart from the numbers, what makes him one of the top midfielders on this list is surprising consistency over a long period of time. Currently 31, Kroos has a few more years to give at the top and continues to stake his claim as one of the best midfielders.
