The 25 best central midfielders in world football - ranked
- Central midfielders come in a range of shapes and sizes in modern football
- Luka Modric has been the gold standard over the past decade
- The likes of Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga could inherit his throne
By 90min Staff
Defining a 'central midfielder' in this day and age is no easy task.
The dissipation of fixed positions and increased prominence of 'roles' or 'functions' mean these folk in the middle of the park are tasked with an array of duties.
Nevertheless, central midfielders are often the cornerstones of elite-level sides. They can do it all and come in a myriad of shapes, sizes and profiles.
All of that makes ranking the best 25 in the world incredibly tough, but here's our crack at doing exactly that.
25. Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Certain players seem to age like fine wine and Henrikh Mkhitaryan is definitely one of them.
Having lost his way at Manchester United and Arsenal, Mkhitaryan headed to Italy and rebuilt himself at Roma. The move to Inter proved to be very smart, and despite his advancing years, he plays almost every game and storms up and down the pitch.
24. Conor Gallagher
Conor Gallagher first impressed on loan at Crystal Palace and seemed to have carved out a long-term future at Chelsea.
The Blues' lavish spending in the transfer market forced him to look elsewhere for a new home, with Atletico Madrid snapping him up as a perfect addition to Diego Simeone's squad.
Gallagher certainly has the tireless work ethic and hunger to defend that is required to play under Simeone and he could well thrive in the Spanish capital.
23. Leon Goretzka
Leon Goretzka's transformation from lean and skinny to mean and mighty helped him morph into one of the world's most destructive midfielders.
The Germany international certainly isn't the cleanest of technicians but is incredibly effective at what he does. He times his runs into the box superbly, while he's an indefatigable runner out of possession.
While not the powerful machine he once was, there is no doubting Goretzka's quality when he's firing.
22. Manuel Locatelli
Manuel Locatelli has been on the scene for a while now and goes under the radar as a very consistent performer.
The boyhood Juventus fan may have earned more plaudits had the Old Lady not been enduring such a difficult period in their modern history upon his arrival, but the addition of manager Thiago Motta should help Locatelli's reputation hit new heights in a more attack-minded system.
21. Piotr Zielinski
Piotr Zielinski doesn't blow you away physically or even technically, but he's such a smart footballer who's produced consistently for Napoli over recent years.
The Poland international appeared in at least 35 Serie A games for the first seven years of his stay in southern Italy, and was crucial to Napoli's remarkable title win in 2022/23.
Now donning the black and blue of reigning champions Inter, Simone Inzaghi knows exactly what to expect from the midfielder.
20. John McGinn
Aston Villa's ascent under Unai Emery has been quite something to behold, with John McGinn the linchpin in the centre of the park. The powerful Scotsman has a wide array of talents, but his leadership and determination stand above his technical attributes.
McGinn, whether through his goals, assists or tireless running, was instrumental in Villa securing Champions League football in 2023/24, and he's living proof that hard work pays off.
19. Mikel Merino
Things didn't work out for Mikel Merino during his first stint in the Premier League, with his abrupt spell at Newcastle United best forgotten. However, following a move to Arsenal, the Spain international has a shot at redemption with one of Europe's best sides.
Mikel Arteta's desire to sign Merino came following six impressive seasons with Real Sociedad, where he partnered the excellent Martin Zubimendi effectively in the engine room.
Merino also starred at Euro 2024 for Spain as an impact substitute, with his 119th minute winner in the quarter-final helping La Roja to glory.
18. Exequiel Palacios
Exequiel Palacios has played for just two clubs during his career: River Plate and Bayer Leverkusen. The former is where he announced himself as an exceptional young talent but the latter is where he has blossomed into an all-action star.
The Argentine was integral to Leverkusen's success in 2023/24 as the German side went unbeaten domestically and did the league and cup double, with Palacios capable of screening a back four and popping up with the odd goal and assist from deep.
17. Warren Zaire-Emery
Paris Saint-Germain's business model since the early 2010s has been splashing all of the money under the sun to carve out success.
Yet ironically one of their best-ever assets could turn out to be academy graduate Warren Zaire-Emery, who has a ridiculously good understanding of the game at a tender age.
Already a senior France international, keep an eye on his development in the years to come.
16. Adrien Rabiot
Something of a redemption story, there was a lot of derision towards Adrien Rabiot when he was linked with a move to Manchester United from Juventus in 2022.
He ended up staying with the Bianconeri and miraculously turned into one of their more consistent players. He's got Didier Deschamps' full support too, maintaining a place in France's lineup despite fierce competition for places.
Leaving Juventus on a free transfer at the end of his contract, Rabiot has returned to his native France with Marseille.
15. Teun Koopmeiners
Teun Koopmeiners became one of the best and most consistent players in Serie A during his time with Atalanta. The versatile Dutchman helped La Dea win a first European title in 2023/24, starring in the run to the Europa League final.
Koopmeiners has since traded Bergamo for Turin, teaming up with Juventus at the beginning of the Motta era. His talents should transfer seamlessly to the Allianz Stadium, with Koopmeiners boasting the technical quality and combative attitude required to thrive with the Old Lady.
14. Enzo Fernandez
Enzo Fernandez's reputation should further increase as the years go by. His first season and a half at Chelsea didn't exactly go to plan, but he was hardly alone in that regard.
The Argentine showed at Benfica and the 2022 World Cup that he can develop into one of the best midfielders in the world. He's already one of the most expensive midfielders ever.
Fernandez should blossom under Enzo Maresca in 2024/25 and begin to make good on his potential as a world-beating playmaker in the engine room.
13. Dominik Szoboszlai
Dominik Szoboszlai's ball-striking is among the very best in the world and his knack for pulling off the spectacular could easily see him emerge as a compilation merchant.
However, the Hungarian sensation is much more than that.
Szoboszlai is an elegant playmaker who relishes the battle. His vision and technique mean he stands out from a playmaking perspective and he's put up impressive assist numbers throughout his senior career thus far.
12. Mateo Kovacic
Mateo Kovacic is a prime example of a player who could have been one of the greats had he not struggled with a catalogue of injuries.
The Croatian is one of the most proficient ball-progressing midfielders, and he can also pick apart defensive structures with the most precise vertical passes. He's a solid performer each and every time he plays.
His spell at Manchester City has seen him earn fewer minutes than during his Chelsea days, but the former Real Madrid man has proven a perfect fit for Pep Guardiola's set-up.
11. Fabian Ruiz
Fabian Ruiz often went under the radar at Napoli and suffered a similar problem following a move to PSG in 2022. However, at Euro 2024 we saw the best version of the Spaniard.
En route to winning the trophy with La Roja, Ruiz sparkled as a box-to-box midfielder, shining with his dazzling array of passes and his ability to score goals in and around the edge of the penalty area.
It's safe to say that Ruiz's talents are no longer underestimated.
10. Douglas Luiz
Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz was arguably the key ingredient to Aston Villa's surprise qualification for the 2024/25 Champions League.
His ability on and off the ball allows the players in front of him to go and win games. Luiz also has a more developed eye for goal than most of his midfield peers.
A move to Juventus was hardly surprising and the resilient South American will be aiming to thrive in a new environment.
9. Luka Modric
Luka Modric will go down as one of the best central midfielders to ever play the game. Few have ever been as consistently creative as the Croatian.
He is coming to the end of his career and it will be a sad day when he retires, but Modric's quality is undoubted and all eyes are keen to see what he does once his time at Real Madrid is over.
The 2018 Ballon d'Or winner's minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu are increasingly managed, but he still showcases his immense composure and quality when stepping out in the Spanish capital.
8. Gavi
Gavi's development has been stunted by a serious knee injury, but he has shown more than enough to suggest he's going to be one of Barcelona and the world's best players in the years to come.
The diminutive Spaniard has endless levels of energy and has become a crucial part of a Catalan giants midfield that is always stacked with talent.
Managing Gavi's recovery and development will be key for Barcelona and the youngster, but there is no doubt that the Catalan giants are immediately a stronger side with him involved.
7. Eduardo Camavinga
Already a key player for Real Madrid, it's fair to say Eduardo Camavinga is pretty damn good.
Be it as a full-back or a midfielder, Camavinga excels. The Frenchman proved pivotal as an impact substitute during Madrid's glorious Champions League run in 2021/22 and his importance in the Spanish capital has continued to grow.
Camavinga will only get better with an incredible squad developing at the Bernabeu.
6. Pedri
The comparisons are ubiquitous, but the similarities are too distinct to ignore; Pedri is the second coming of Andres Iniesta.
Barcelona knew he was special when they scooped him up from Las Palmas, and his performance away at Juventus in the Champions League during his first season at the club depicted just how talented the midfielder is.
Pedri's a genius with and without the ball. He ghosts into pockets of space that seemingly don’t exist, dazzles in possession and supplies teammates relentlessly. There's an aura surrounding the low-sock-donning Spaniard that's too strong to ignore.
5. Frenkie de Jong
Forever desired by Manchester United, Frenkie de Jong boasts truly outrageous talent.
The Dutchman has endured the typical peaks and troughs of being a Barcelona player. The fresh-faced midfielder is as press-resistant as they come and has a knack for embarking on the maziest of dribbles.
Proactive in possession, his defensive instincts mean he can fill in at centre-back and, moreover, De Jong is incredibly athletic which allows him to cover the ground quickly in transition.
4. Ilkay Gundogan
Ilkay Gundogan led Manchester City to a historic treble in 2022/23 and cemented his place as one of the best midfielders in the world.
The Germany international's tireless showings in midfield contain plenty of goal threat and intricate passing alongside a healthy dose of leadership. His move to Barcelona didn't quite pan out as expected but he was still a beacon of consistency during a difficult period for the club.
Now back at Man City and comfortable in familiar surroundings, Gundogan remains one of the world's most intelligent and devastating midfielders.
3. Nicolo Barella
Nicolo Barella and the right half-space is a deadly combination.
The tenacious Italian rose to prominence during Antonio Conte's reign at Inter as the Nerazzurri lifted the Scudetto in 2021, ending Juventus' decade-long reign as Italian champions.
Barella grabs games by the scruff of the neck and he guided Inter to another Serie A title in 2023/24. The fiery Italian will long be a staple of their midfield with his all-action displays.
2. Alexis Mac Allister
Alexis Mac Allister was very much a box-to-box midfielder for Brighton & Hove Albion but has adopted a more withdrawn role since joining Liverpool.
He's been brilliant in that deeper position, even if his more eye-catching moments suggest the World Cup winner will feature further forward more regularly at Anfield in the future.
The Argentine is typically South American with his combination of physical and technical attributes, also possessing the ability to score an absolute screamer when required.
1. Federico Valverde
Often shuffled around from one position to the next, Federico Valverde had to do some hard yards to get recognised at Real Madrid.
That's exactly what the Uruguay international did, however, even with competition like Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. His insatiable work ethic and risk-free approach in possession means Madrid's attacking stars are freed up to do damage in the final third.
The ever-present Uruguayan also has an eye for a goal, scoring the Goal of the Season en route to winning the Champions League in 2023/24 with a sumptuous volley.
READ MORE ON THE BEST 25 PLAYERS FOR EVERY POSITION IN WORLD FOOTBALL
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