Football’s Finest: The Best Midfielders in the World Ever

Who are the best midfielders in the world ever? Do you sometimes think of this term along with what makes one the best midfielder ever, and what are the qualities that they possess? Here is detailed information to answer all your queries simply and easily.

Midfielders are considered the heartbeat of a football team. They perform all kinds of decisive plays, from orchestrating the play to controlling the game’s tempo and key passes from defense to attack. They mostly occupy the central or midfield area of the field, hence the name midfielders. Since the beginning of football to today’s date, there have been thousands, and among them, a few handfuls have outranked them all. In this blog, we get to know about some of the legends of the game who, with their skill, creativity, and leadership, have carved their name as the best midfielders in the world ever.

Before we dive into the list, let’s learn more about the term midfielder. What is the role of different types of midfielders? and What are the major skills required for different types of midfielders? Let’s learn about what makes the name of a young individual come up as one of the best midfielders in the world ever.

Types of Midfielders

The position of midfielders has its variations, even though they play in the middle of the field. Some prefer to stay deep and help in defensive action, whereas others prefer more advanced roles. Different types of midfielders have different types of roles. Here is a list of the different types of midfielders:

Defensive midfielders

These are the types that prefer to stay deep inside their half and contribute to defensive action. They often tuck between the defense line and central line to disrupt the opponent’s attack or counterattack. It is a very important position to have in playing eleven. While defensive midfielders don’t score often and their contributions often go unnoticed, their presence in the field gives full-backs and wingers extra confidence to attack.

Various types of defensive midfielders have different elements in their game. Some are good off the ball, like Casemiro, while others are good with the ball, like Busquets. Some prefer to be aggressive and go for tackles and interceptions, while others go for positional play and stay in their zone as anchormen. Whatever the style of play, the main role of the defensive midfielder is to win the ball, shield the defense line, distribute the ball from defense to midfield, and interceptions. Some of the famous defensive mids are:

• Sergio Busquets
• Pattrick Viera
• Casemiro
• Claude Makelele
• Rodri

Central midfielders

Central mids, also known as orchestrators, are the heartbeat of the team. They dictate the flow of the game. Their role is most important during attacking and defensive transitions. Their role is to link up the play, control the tempo of the game, and contribute both to attack and defense.

Having control and calm is one of the most essential attributes of central mids. They should also possess skills such as tactical intelligence, ball control, press resistance, and creative vision. Their capacity to direct the game and coordinate the play makes them an essential part of the game. Some of the most famous central mids are:

• Xavi Hernandez
• Luka Modric
• Joshua Kimmich
• Toni Kroos
• Paul Scholes

Attacking midfielders

Attacking midfielders, also known as central attacking midfielders (CAM), are opposite to defensive midfielders. While defensive mids stay in their half and contribute in defense, attacking mids mostly stay in the opponent’s half and contribute in attack. They play a crucial role in linking the midfield and the attack line, creating scoring chances, and often scoring themselves.

Playmaking, dribbling, and bypassing the opponent’s defensive line are the major roles of attacking midfielders. They have the vision and technical ability to deliver key passes, through balls, and crosses that create scoring opportunities for the forwards. They are also expected to score goals as they find themselves in advanced positions in and around the D-box of their opponent. Some of the best attacking midfielders are:

• Kevin De Bruyne
• Zinedine Zidane
• Andreas Iniesta
• Mesut Ozil
• David Silva
• kaka

Box-to-box midfielders

Box-to-box midfielders are the most versatile and hard-working players on the field. Their dynamism makes them play all around the field, contributing both on the attacking and defensive fronts. They are known for their incredible stamina, tactical awareness, and ability to cover large areas of the pitch. act as a link between the defensive and attacking units, facilitating smooth transitions and maintaining team structure

Versatility, stamina, and work rate are the key attributes that make one a good box-to-box midfielder. They also possess other characteristics like passing, dribbling, shooting, and interception. They know when to push forward to attack and drop down to defend. Their hard work throughout the game makes them a valuable asset to the team. Some of the best box-to-box midfielders are:

• Yaya Toure
• Frank Lampard
• Steven Gerrard
• Roy Keane
• Fede Valverde

Skills of Midfielders

Each player in each position should have their own skillset in football. For example, a forward should have skills like offensive awareness, heading, and dribbling; wingers should have skills like dribbling, pace, ability to take on, crossing, etc. Like all of the positions, midfielders should also possess some very important skills. Here are some of the basic and advanced skills that a midfielder should have in their arsenal.

Tight Possession and Dribbling

• Close control: the ability to have control of the ball during a press from the opponent.
• Dribbling: the ability to get past the opponent with different maneuvers.
• First touch: the ability to control the ball in the first touch and set up the next move.

Passing and Vision

• Short pass: accuracy in quick short passes to maintain possession and build up.
• Long pass: accuracy in delivering long balls forward and switching flanks.
• Through pass: the ability to thread the ball past the defense to open up possibilities for goals.

Awareness and Positioning

• Spatial awareness: having an awareness of where to be in different situations.
• Game reading: read the opponent’s move and act accordingly.
• Positioning: maintaining the best position on the field according to gameplay.

Defensive ability

• Man marking: being close to an opponent to limit their movement.
• Tackling: the ability to win the ball from an opponent with clean, well-timed tackles.
• Interception: the ability to intercept the pass from the opponent.

Shooting and Finishing

• Shooting accuracy: accuracy in taking powerful shots from outside the box.
• Finishing: the ability to score goals when the opportunity comes.

Other skills

• Set piece taking: the ability to accurately take set pieces like freekicks and corners.
• Creativity: inventive play to unlock defenses with unexpected moves.
• Adaptability: the ability to play all around the midfield to contribute to both defensive and offensive actions.
• Communication: the ability to provide feedback and direct teammates.

Some of the best midfielders in the world ever

Throughout history, many midfielders have proven themselves on the field with their skills and abilities, numerous times. There has always been debate among football fans about who the best midfielders in the world are. So here are some of the most phenomenal midfielders ever to grace the game.

Diego Maradona (1960-2020)

Diego Armando Maradona is counted not only as the best-attacking midfielder ever but also as the greatest player ever to play the game. He always had charm and an impressive personality, both on and off the field. He always had a way of gaining popularity and winning games, like his famous goal branded as the hand of god during the 1986 World Cup against England.

Maradona’s football career started in 1969 at the youth academy of Argentinos Junior and ended at Boca Juniors in 1997. During his club football career, he played for clubs like Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla, and Newells Old Boys. During his club career, he played 491 games and scored 259 goals.

His career on the national team began in 1977 and ended in 1994. During this span, he played 94 games and scored 34 goals. He won the FIFA World Cup in 1986, where he captained the national team of Argentina. His goal against England was declared the Goal of the Century by Fifa.com voters in 2002.

Zinedine Zidane (1972-)

Zinedine Zidane also referred to as Zizou is one of the best midfielders to ever grace the game. His technical skills, elegance, and vision made him one of the legends in football history. Zidane’s entire footballing career is a monument to the game, from his amazing run at Juventus and Real Madrid to his exceptional contribution in winning the FIFA World Cup 1998 with France.

His career started at the youth academy of US Saint Henri in 1981. Zidane started his senior club career from Cannes in 1989. From then he played for Bordeaux and European giants like Juventus and Real Madrid. He won the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid in 2002. In his entire career, he was picked as FIFA World Player of the Year three times. His club career is decorated by 95 goals in 506 games.

His time at the national team of France runs from 1994 to 2006. He made his debut in 1994 against Czech Republic. He retired in 2006 after his last game against Italy in the FIFA World Cup 2006, where France lost in the final. He played 108 games in France where he scored 31 goals. His career is not just marked by the goals he scored but also by his ability to create for his teammates. His total of approximately 145 goals and 136 assists highlights his dual role as a prolific midfielder and a visionary playmaker.

Xavi Hernandez (1980-)

Often known for his impeccable vision, precise passing, and very high football intelligence, Xavi Hernandez is one of the best midfielders in the world. He is known to have transformed the role of central midfielders and raised the bar to new levels. His impact in his prime days made him an architect for FC Barcelona’s and Spain’s golden period.

Xavi started his youth career at La Masia in 1991. His senior club career began at FC Barcelona in 1998. Xavi stayed in Barcelona up to 2015 after that he transferred to Qatari side Al Sadd. In his club career, Xavi won major trophies such as La Liga 8 times and UEFA Champions League 4 times. In his entire club career, Xavi played 642 games and scored 81 times. He retired from club football in 2019 after staying for 4 seasons in Al Sadd.

His senior national debut came in 2000 and he retired in 2014. His time on the national team is equally decorated with multiple major trophies such as UEFA Euro Cup in 2008 and 2012 and FIFA World Cup in 2010. He finished 3rd in Ballon D Or rankings in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Due to his skill in controlling the game, he became known as “The Puppet Master.” As the heart of the midfield, he took control of possession and ran the game his way as maestro of the mid.

Andres Iniesta (1984-)

In the realm of football, very few have the elegance and technical abilities of Andres Iniesta. Regarded as the artist of the game, he along with Xavi Hernandez and Sergio Busquets formed the greatest midfield trio of all-time. Iniesta easily enters the domain of best midfielders in the world ever due to his clutch moments and unparalleled skill with the ball.

His youth career began in 1994 with Albacete and his Senior career in 2002 with Barcelona. He stayed in Barcelona up to 2018. In 2018 he transferred to Japanese side Visel Kobe and is currently involved with Emirates. Iniesta was an important part of the midfield which won the famous Treble in 2009 and Sextuple in 2015. With 9 La Ligas and 4 UEFA Champions League, he is regarded as the most decorated Spanish player of all time.

His career from the national side of Spain is equally decorated with trophies. He won the FIFA World Cup 2010, by scoring a winning goal in the final against the Netherlands. He made his debut from the national side in 200g and announced his retirement in 2018. From Spain, he appeared in 131 games scoring 11 goals. The story of Iniesta’s career can be described as one of the few great who rose above the normal to achieve greater things.

Ronaldinho Gaucho (1980-)

Known as the smiling assassin Ronaldinho with his infectious smile, dazzling skills, and unparalleled technical abilities can easily be placed among the best midfielders ever. Ronaldinho became a global icon and symbol of joy in football. He always had a smile, earning him many global worshippers. Born as Ronaldo de Assis Moreira on March 21, 1980, in Porto Alegre, Brazil, he rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most beloved and influential players in the game’s history.

Ronaldinho started his early career in 1987 from Gremio. His senior club debut came in 1998 at Gremio. In 2001 he began his European journey from PSG. He played for giants like Barcelona (2003-2008), Ac Milan (2008-2011), Flamengo (2011-2012), Atletico Mineiro (2012-2014), Queretaro (2014-2015), and ended in Fluminense (2015). He appeared in 511 games during his club career and scored 205 goals. Ronaldinho’s club career is stacked with trophies and individual awards. He won the Ballon D or in 2005 and FIFA World Player of the Year two times. He won major trophies like La Liga and UEFA Champions League.

His career from the national side of Brazil started in 1999 and ended in 2013. From Brazil, he played 97 games and scored 33 goals. He won FIFA World Cup in 2002 being an important part of the team alongside Rivaldo and Ronaldo. His journey from the streets of Brazil to the pinnacle of world football is really impressive. His story is not only about his achievement but the joy and inspiration he gave to millions of fans all over the world.

These are some of the best midfielders of the game who defined the game in their way. Scoring goals, assisting, winning trophies, and most importantly giving the moments to remember, they gave it all. These are not the only ones to do so here are some of the honorable mentions:

• Pavel Nedved
• Ricardo Kaka
• David Beckham
• Paul Scholes
• Andrea Pirlo
• Michel Platini

Conclusion

The icons in world football in the division of midfield have shown that you don’t always need to score goals to be remembered. These absolute legends have given unforgettable moments. From the technical abilities of Zidane to the magic of Xavi to the decisiveness of Iniesta all of these greatest midfield maestros have given more to the football earning respects from millions of fans all around the world. They have become an inspiration to more present and future stars. Their place among the finest to have ever graced the field is assured by their incredible abilities, astute observations of the game, and memorable performances that inspire and develop the beautiful game.

Click here to learn about some more interesting things about Asian footballers.