A long time ago, the midfielder was a position exclusively for strength and marking. It was customary for this player to wear the number 5 shirt and not be so technically demanding. Nowadays, things have changed a bit: to be one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, you need to have vision and a good passer of the ball.
Who are today’s great midfielders? Which names attract the most attention from soccer fanatics?
Come and meet the names that are shining in the eyes of fans around the world!
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How do you know who the best defensive midfielders in the world are?
We’re going to use the SofaScore platform, which compiles data and information on every active player on the planet, as the basis for our analysis of the world’s best midfielders.
Who are the best defensive midfielders in the world?
- Rodri (Manchester City)
City’s 27-year-old Spanish star is the first here: the player has had another unforgettable season with the team.
- Current score: 7.91
- In the English Championship 23/24:9 assists, 91% of passes correct per game and 6.9 balls recovered per game.
- Exequiel Palacios (Bayern 04 Leverkusen)
In second place, the 25-year-old Argentinian from the team managed by Xabi Alonso, who won the German championship for the first time in history.
- Current score: 7.59
- In the Bundesliga 23/24:5 assists, 92% of passes correct per game and 7.0 balls recovered per game.
- Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Inter Milan)
Although his name is difficult to pronounce, the Turkish veteran has been crucial to Inter’s campaign this season. Third place goes to Çalhanoğlu!
- Current score: 7.56
- In Serie A 23/24: 3 assists, 92% correct passes per game and 5.3 balls recovered per game.
- Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)
With 34 years on his back, the German is still indispensable to the Madrid team and is therefore the fourth best defensive midfielders in the world.
- Current score: 7.55
- In La Liga 23/24: 7 assists, 94% right passes per game and 4.5 balls recovered per game.
- Pascal Groß (Brighton & Hove Albion)
The 32-year-old German was a standout performer for England’s Brighton and has earned fifth place on our list.
- Current score: 7.46
- In the English Championship 23/24: 10 assists, 90% of passes correct per game and 4.0 balls recovered per game.
- Granit Xhaka (Bayern 04 Leverkusen)
Formerly of Arsenal, Xhaka went to Germany to shine and, as well as winning the national title with the team, secured his place among the best defensive midfielders in the world.
- Current score: 7.44
- In the Bundesliga 23/24:3 goals, 92% of passes correct per game and 7.0 balls recovered per game.
- Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
An excellent passer and playmaker, the versatile Kimmich continues to make history at Bayern, even though this season has been a little below par.
- Current score: 7.39
- In the Bundesliga 23/24:6 assists, 93% of passes correct per game and 5.0 balls recovered per game.
- Ilkay Gündoğan (Barcelona)
The German, who has shone wherever he has played, remains one of the world’s great defensive midfielders, now with Barça.
- Current score: 7.35
- In La Liga 23/24: 7 assists, 90% right passes per game and 5.3 balls recovered per game.
- Enzo Fernández (Chelsea)
A promising Argentinian player who was unveiled at the last World Cup, Enzo has put in some good performances for the London side and, despite his irregular performances, he makes our list in ninth place.
- Current score: 7.32
- In the English Championship 23/24:2 assists, 87% of passes correct per game and 4.4 balls recovered per game.
- Federico Valverde (Real Madrid)
In a team of stars, Valverde doesn’t leave anything to be desired, his performances for the Spanish capital are worthy of the best midfielders in the world.
- Current score: 7.31
- In La Liga 23/24: 7 assists, 91% correct passes per game and 4.4 balls recovered per game.
- Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle)
A former Atletico player who was constantly called up to the Brazilian national team, Bruno had an excellent season with the team from the north of England.
- Current score: 7.29
- In the English Championship 23/24:6 assists, 85% of passes correct per game and 6.2 balls recovered per game.
- Declan Rice (Arsenal)
A star of the Hammers, now at the Gunners, Rice is a pillar in the current Arsenal team and earns our twelfth place.
- Current score: 7.27
- In the English Championship 23/24: 8 assists, 91% correct passes per game and 4.7 balls recovered per game.
- Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich)
Bayern’s big man has been putting in great performances for many seasons now, and it’s impossible to leave him out of the list of the best defensive midfielders in the world!
- Current score: 7.25
- In the Bundesliga 23/24: 7 assists, 89% right passes per game and 5.7 balls recovered per game.
- Rodrigo De Paul (Atlético Madrid)
Fourteenth, the excellent 29-year-old Argentinian midfielder. De Paul is renowned for his long, accurate balls.
- Current score: 7.25
- In La Liga 23/24: 4 assists, 86% right passes per game and 4.3 balls recovered per game.
- Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona)
With his impeccable positioning and outstanding vision, De Jong plays a lot of football for the Catalan side and rounds off our list of the best defensive midfielders in the world.
- Current score: 7.22
- In La Liga 23/24: 93% of passes cleared per game and 5.9 balls recovered per game.
List of the best defensive midfielders in the world
- Rodri
- Exequiel Palacios
- Hakan Çalhanoğlu
- Toni Kroos
- Pascal Groß
- Granit Xhaka
- Joshua Kimmich
- Ilkay Gündoğan
- Enzo Fernández
- Federico Valverde
- Bruno Guimarães
- Declan Rice
- Leon Goretzka
- Rodrigo De Paul
- Frenkie de Jong
The best defensive midfielders in the world: today’s most expensive athlete
Last year’s frontrunner, Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich, now shares second place with two other players: England’s Declan Rice, of West Ham, and Spain’s Rodri, of Manchester City;
According to Transfermarkt, the market value of each of them is valued at 80 million euros (equivalent to R$445.2 million).
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