Sportskeeda's 10 Best Midfielders of the Year 2015

As another year comes to an end, we take a look back at the 12 months gone by and recognize the best players and managers who have performed well in the calendar year. While the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar mesmerized us throughout the year, Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez were the surpise package of the year.Barcelona ended up with the most number of trophies in Europe this year, but football keeps surprising us as Leicester City are near the top of the Premier League at the end of the year. While a lot of new players came in to impress, some of the elder stars are still going strong. Looking at the calendar year 2015, we have shortlisted 10 of the best midfielders this year. The players appear in no particular order.Who is your pick? Remember to vote at the end of the article.

#1 Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona)

Ivan Rakitic has had a trophy laden year with Barcelona

Ivan Rakitic won the La Liga, Champions League, Copa del Rey, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup. Individually, he was selected in the La Liga Team of the Season, and the UEFA Champions League team of the Season. The Barcelona man won it all this year, and there is little doubt he is one of the best midfielders in the world right now. While Messi, Suarez and Neymar got all the plaudits, Rakitic has been the unsung hero of the team.

When Rakitic signed for Barcelona he was thought of as the natural successor to Xavi, and he has done is job brilliantly. Rakitic has also been a star performer for the Croatian international team, and also won the Croatian Footballer of the Year and Croatian Sportsman of the Year award.

#2 Kevin De Bruyne (Wolfsburg and Manchester CIty)

The Belgian was awarded the German ‘Player of the Year’ award for his Wolfsburg performances

Kevin De Bruyne has been in top form this year, and his brilliant performances for Wolfsburg earned him a £55 million move Manchester City. He made 17 appearances for Wolfsburg scoring 7 goals this year before making his big money move.

He has been Manchester City’s best player this season scoring 5 goals, and assisting another 8 in just the 14 appearances he has made. The 24-year-old also made 10 appearances for Belgium scoring 4 goals.

For De Bruyne, it has been a perfect season as he won the DFB-Pokal and DFL-Supercup with Wolfsburg. He is now one of the best attacking midfielders in the Premier League, and is tormenting defenses with his pinpoint crossing, and ability to get past defenders. De Bruyne is just not a playmaker, he can score goals regularly, and doesn’t need a second invitation. Manchester City might have spent £55 million on him, but they have a star in making.

#3 Arturo Vidal (Juventus and Bayern Munich)

Vidal had a great year for his clubs and country

Chilean international Arturo Vidal completed a €37 million move to Bayern Munich after his impressive performances for Juventus and Chile. He won the Serie A with Juventus this season, but was unlucky on a few occasions as his team finished runners-up in UEFA Champions League, Coppa Italia and DFL-Supercup. Vidal scored three goals in the Copa America to help Chile win the presitgious tournament, and was also selected in the Copa America team of the tournament.

It has been a great year for Vidal, and now he is a vital part of Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich squad. Vidal likes to dominate games from midfield, and his reading of the game makes him better than most of the midfielders in the world. Vidal will be hoping to finally get his hands on the Champions League trophy this season with Bayern Munich.

#4 Sergio Busquets (Barcelona)

Sergio Busquets (L) continued his understated role for Barcelona this year

As reliable as it gets, Sergio Busquets is always the unsung hero for Barcelona in the last few years. His awareness, composure on the ball, and leadership skills makes him irreplaceable. Barcelona have 80% win rate when Busquets is in the team, but that number falls to 66% without him. He won the La Liga, Champions League, Copa del Rey, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup. The 27-year-old was also selected in the UEFA Champions League Team of the Season.

There are very few players in the world that have the qualify of Sergio Busquets, as he does a lot of behind the scenes work for the Barcelona team. His vision on a football pitch is as good as any other footballer, and his qualities are difficult to quantify. Busquets made 52 appearances for Barcelona this year, and 8 appearances for the national team.

#5 Marco Verratti (Paris St. Germain)

Verratti was crowned the UNFP Foreign Player of the Year for his performances at the heart of PSG’s midfield

Just like Busquets, Verratti in a unsung hero for French champions Paris Saint Germain. The 23-year-old is an enigma on a football pitch, and often controls the game the way he wants to. He has a good range of passing skills, and has a brilliant ball control too. He is calm and composed on the ball, and doesn’t look for shortcuts. His only visible weakness might be he doesn’t offer threat aerially, and niether does he dive into tackles too often.

He won four trophies with Paris Saint Germain this one which includes Ligue 1, Couple de France, Couple de la Ligue, and Trophee des Champions. Individually, he was awarded the UNFP Ligue 1 Foreign Player of the Year. Verratti is also a vital part of Antonio Conte’s Italian national team, and made 5 appearances for them this year.

#6 Mesut Ozil (Arsenal)

Mesut Ozil (C) has created the most chances for Arsenal this year

Now hailed as the ‘King of Assists’, it has been a brilliant year for the German international. Ozil scored 5 goals and assisted another 19 this year, he has 15 assists to his name this season which is more than any other player in Europe. The Arsenal playmaker has tormented defenses this season, and if he continues his brilliant form for the rest of the season, Arsenal might have a very good chance of winning the league.

Ozil is playing some of the best football he has played in his career, and has been Arsenal’s best player this season. After his big money move to the Premier League, it took time for him to settle in, but now he is up and running. He was also a key member of the Arsenal squad that won the FA Cup and FA Community Shield this year.

#7 Paul Pogba (Juventus)

Pogba’s all action displays were a big reason for Juventus’ success this year

Probably the best young talent in world football as he keeps proving why Manchester United made a big mistake letting him go. Pogba had another brilliant year for Italian champions Juventus, and a big money move to Barcelona or Real Madrid is only a matter of time. The 22-year-old is physically strong, and often makes his presence felt on a football pitch, but despite being tall, he is very dynamic and can easily dribble past opponents. Pogba has a brilliant range of passing skills too, and also can score goals from distance.

Pogba won the Serie A with Juventus this year, and finished as runners-up in the Coppa Italia and UEFA Champions League. He scored 8 goals for Juventus this year, but goal scoring is not the biggest aspect of his game. He will also be a key member for France as the host the Euros in 2016.

#8 Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City)

The Algerian’s performances in 2015 have propelled Leicester to the top of the Premier League

Probably the biggest surprise in Europe this season, Riyad Mahrez looks unstoppable at the moment. The Algerian international, who was signed for just £400,000 by Leicester last season, is the second highest goal scorer in the Premier League this season. Mahrez has 15 league goals to his name this year, and together with Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, he has been the prime reason of Leicester City’s brillaint performances this season. Mahrez can cause problems for defenders with his pace and trickery, and with confidence running high he doesn’t think twice before getting past defenders withe ease.

There will be a lot of suitors for Riyad Mahrez next season, and it will be difficult for Leicester City to keep hold of one of the best talents in Europe right now, but right now he’ll be dreaming of doing the unthinkable with Leicester City and keeping them at the top of the league as long as possible. He has also made 13 appearances for the Algerian national team this season scoring two goals.

#9 Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Borussia Dortmund)

The Armenian has been vital to Dortmund’s resurgence this year

Henrikh Mkhitaryan has taken Bundesliga by storm this season. After taking some time to settle in at Dortmund, Mkhitaryan has finally started to prove his big money from Shakhtar Donetsk. He has 6 goals and 8 assists to his name in the Bundesliga this season, and has been a key part of Thomas Tuchel’s team. He is yet to sign a new deal at Borussia Dortmund, and with just one year left in contract after the end of the current season, he’ll be one of the most in demand players in the summer next year if he chooses not to extend his contract.

Recently, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said he is one of the best talents in world, and there is little doubt about that. Mkhitaryan is an intelligent player with great positional and spatial awareness. His style of play is a bit direct, but he doesn’t hesitate to dribble past defenders.

#10 Xabi Alonso (Bayern Munich)

The Spanish veteran was crucial to Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga success

Just like wine, Xabi Alonso keeps getting better with age, as he is still one of the best midfielders in the world. Alonso has played for some of the biggest clubs in the world, and even at the age of 34, he was given a two-year contract extension by Bayern Munich. Xabi was brought to Bayern Munich by Pep Guardiola and since then he has been a vital member of his squad. Alonso has featured regularly for Bayern Munich this year in all competitions, and there are no signs of him declining yet.

He still has got a brilliant range of passing skills, and technique on the ball. He won the Bundesliga this year, and will be now aiming to win the Champions League for the third time with three different clubs. Needless to say, Xabi Alonso is still one of the best midfielders in the world and comfortably walks into the starting XI of any team in Europe.