The following list of elite midfield players in the world will exclude the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka since they sometimes play as forwards or as support strikers depending on the strategy deployed by their team. Kaka has previously played as a second striker during his spell with Milan while both Messi and Ronaldo have played in various attacking positions for their club (mostly on the wing though).
The list below does not comprise all of the world’s best midfielders but focuses on those who have made next summer’s World Cup:
Cesc Fabregas: The young Spaniard is already Arsenal’s captain after being handed the armband just over a year ago and has been a menacing threat for opponents from his central midfield position. His main contributions come in the form of assists to his teammates as well as being a key participant in the build-up of most of the club’s attacking moves. This season he has already scored six goals and amassed 10 assists in Arsenal’s first 10 league games. Fabregas has three goals as well as three assists in five European appearances for the London side.
Daniele De Rossi: The defensive midfielder is one of the Azzurri’s most important players and is one of the first names in the starting lineup under coach Marcello Lippi. With aging enforcer Gennaro Gattuso suffering from lack of form and injuries, De Rossi’s role has become even more important. While statistics may not do the Roma midfielder justice, it is known that his influence for the Giallorossi and the national team is quite immense. One interesting fact is Daniele has scored eight times for Italy and his country has won all eight of those games!
Marek Hamsik: The Slovak international is a cornerstone of his club Napoli and his national team. He is renowned for his dangerous positioning and for popping up from the outside the area to score goals. Though different from England’s Frank Lampard, he does share some similar traits and at the age of 22 he obviously has many years ahead to mature into one of the world’s most effective and dangerous central midfielders. (Please refer to previous piece titled Best Starting 11 Today dated November 16, 2009)
Steven Gerrard: The England international has been used as a second striker and in support of striker Fernando Torres yet he features on this list because he has mostly been used in various midfield positions over his career. To most Liverpool fans, Gerrard’s name should be the first on any of the team’s starting 11 in official matches. The club tends to suffer and miss that extra impetus when Gerrard is not playing. Liverpool’s losses often coincide with his absence through injury or suspension. Gerrard will play a key role for England under the leadership of Fabio Capello.
Xabi Alonso: The midfield general was quite influential in Liverpool’s drive for the title last season. His departure to Real Madrid has led some, including Captain Gerrard, to rue his exit from Anfield and to praise his contributions to the English club. He recently scored a brace in Spain’s 2-1 victory over Argentina. He is beginning to settle down for Los Galacticos will surely be decisive if the capital side are to dethrone la Liga’s champions Barcelona (Please refer to the Best Starting 11 Today article for more information on Alonso).
Frank Lampard: The English midfielder has set the bar so high that critics have begun to question whether he is on a decline because he has had a slow season so far by his own high standards. Lampard will be key for Fabio Capello and his plans to lead England to the latter stages of the World Cup in South Africa. Lampard scored a brace in the 5-1 demolition of Croatia which basically sent a clear message to the rest of the world about England’s intent to compete come next summer.
Honorable mention must go to both of Barcelona’s midfielders Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez. Iniesta has recently recovered from injury but was quite decisive last season and Chelsea fans certainly remember his goal which sent their club packing in European competition. Iniesta must not be very popular with English fans since he went on to play an instrumental role in Barca’s triumph over Manchester United in the Champions League Final as he assisted on the goal by Samuel Eto’o’s.
Xavi is Iniesta’s partner with the Catalan side and the national team with both being decisive in the treble achieved by Barca as well as Spain’s triumph in Euro 2008. Xavi was actually named best player by UEFA during the successful campaign which yielded a precious trophy for the Spaniards during Euro 2008. Xavi and Iniesta clearly compliment each other on the club and international level. Spain will be dangerous next summer with such a skilled and decisive midfield.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
well. this one’s gonna cause some arguments, no?
personally, i think hamsek and de rossi play in a subpar league on subpar teams and aren’t on the same level as the rest of this list. and xavi and iniesta are clearly in the top 10, probably top 5.
who’s missing?
michael essien? when he’s on form, he runs the 2/3 of the field.
felipe melo? been pretty dominant when i’ve seen him lately.
diego?
Hello B,
Xavi is definitely one of the best when fit and in form. As for Diego and F. Melo, they are both inconsistent at this stage to be considered amongst the best. It’s precisely why they’re overlooked in the list. Perhaps towards the end of the season or by next season both will be worthy contenders.
As for De Rossi, he is a consistent performer but certainly not flashy. He’s instrumental for both Roma and Italy. Those who voted clearly hold De Rossi in high esteem as he is the soul of the Roma team. Finally, it seems the voters and readers agree Hamsik is not amongst the elite as you mentioned.
Thank you for your comments.
Funny that you left the third and fourth best players in the world in honorable mention. Gerrard is just the token Brit that needs to be on the list.
Where’s Essien?
Fabregas is not even starter in Spain’s team. Xavi is for sure the best midfielder in the world, quite better than Alonso. If Fabregas plays, Alonso, Navas or Torres will be out, but never Xavi or Iniesta. This will be the spanish team in South Africa:
——-Navas——————Xavi————–Alonso——————Iniesta
Cazorla/Hernandez——Fabregas—–Senna/Busquets————-Silva
————————–Torres———————-Villa—————————-
———————Llorente/Mata—-Negredo/Pedro/Guiza——————