Being a top midfielder is extremely difficult, and all attributes are arguably required to be considered a world-class player in today’s era. Whether it’s protecting the defense, controlling the game or scoring goals, we’ve seen some iconic midfielders over time.
A number of midfielders have won the Ballon d’Or, most recently Rodri and Luka Modric, and, at present, Barcelona’s Pedri and Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham are currently considered the best in world football. But who is the midfield GOAT?
Here’s a list of 20 midfield legends that football has ever seen, taking into account their longevity and consistency at the highest level, while also looking at their team and personal accolades.
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20 best midfielders of all time |
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|---|---|---|
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Rank |
Name |
Country |
|
1 |
Diego Maradona |
Argentina |
|
2 |
Johan Cruyff |
The Netherlands |
|
3 |
Zinedine Zidane |
France |
|
4 |
Michael Platini |
France |
|
5 |
Andres Iniesta |
Spain |
|
6 |
Zico |
Brazil |
|
7 |
Ruud Il |
The Netherlands |
|
8 |
Lothar Matthaus |
Germany |
|
9 |
Bobby Charlton |
England |
|
10 |
Steven Gerrard |
England |
|
11 |
Luka Modric |
Croatia |
|
12 |
Paul Scholes |
England |
|
13 |
Andrea Pirlo |
Italy |
|
14 |
Tony Kroos |
Germany |
|
15 |
Xavier |
Spain |
|
16 |
Clarence Seedorf |
The Netherlands |
|
17 |
Kaka |
Brazil |
|
18 |
Socrates |
Brazil |
|
19 |
Patrick Vieira |
France |
|
20 |
Frank Lampard |
England |
20
Frank Lampard
If you need a goalscoring midfielder, then Frank Lampard is definitely one of the best. A Chelsea legend, the Englishman is in fact the Blues’ all-time top scorer, netting 211 times at Stamford Bridge in 13 years.
Lampard has won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups, one Champions League and one Europa League, deservedly being inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2021.
19
Patrick Vieira
Continuing the trend of Premier League icons, Patrick Vieira is best known for his tenure as Arsenal captain under Arsène Wenger and is also a member of the Premier League Hall of Fame.
The Frenchman cost the Gunners just £3.5m in 1996 and was worth every penny, being named in the PFA Team of the Year in six successive seasons.
Vieira, a World Cup and Euro winner, could help protect the defense by interrupting the play, pushing his team forward with his power and scoring a goal every now and then.
18
Socrates
Recognizable in his playing days by his beard and headband, Socrates was an extremely stylish and intelligent midfielder in his prime, combining power and touch.
A skillful inspiration for the next generation of Brazilian stars, Socrates viewed football as an art, and this truly manifested itself during his career, with the 6ft 4in midfielder playing for Corinthians.
17
Kaka
Another Brazilian who reportedly grew up learning all about Socrates was Kaka, and he would become an icon himself after playing for AC Milan and Real Madrid.
Kaka was fast, skillful, strong and had plenty of end product and was one of a small select group of players to have won the World Cup, Champions League and Ballon d’Or.
He may not have had the longevity and consistency as some of the others on the roster, but at his peak, nothing could stop Kaka.
16
Clarence Seedorf
Still the only player in football history to win the Champions League with three different clubs, Clarence Seedorf has had an influence on teams like Ajax, Real Madrid and AC Milan.
The Dutchman was an iconic box-to-box midfielder and could send 60-yard passes, make last-ditch tackles and score in the same game.
Named Dutch Footballer of the Year in 1993 and 1994, Seedorf was also named UEFA’s Best Midfielder in 2007, demonstrating just how daft he was over time.
15
Xavier
A product of Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy, Xavi would play over 750 games for the Catalan giants and form one of the most iconic midfield trios at the Camp Nou alongside Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets.
A fleeting genius, Xavi was an incredible leader of one of the best teams in history, winning eight La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues.
The Spaniard also won two European Championships and a World Cup, and the fact that he was a regular in dominant teams throughout his career shows just how good he was.
14
Tony Kroos
Toni Kroos has rightly become an icon of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Germany after a glittering 17-year career at the highest level.
Winning six Champions Leagues, six league titles and the World Cup, Kroos was known for his incredible passing range and recorded over 100 assists in the Bundesliga and La Liga during his career.
13
Andrea Pirlo
Arguably the coolest midfielder in history, Andrea Pirlo ran through football matches with ease and never looked like he was sweating.
A deep-lying playmaker, the Italian has won six Serie A titles, two Champions Leagues and the World Cup. Pirlo played for AC Milan and Juventus, finishing in the top 10 three times at the Ballon d’Or.
12
Paul Scholes
Like Kroos and Pirlo, Paul Scholes’ passing range was off the charts during his Man Utd career, which saw him win 11 Premier League titles.
Although his England career failed to live up to his club accolades, Scholes was called a ‘teacher’ by Lionel Messi, the ‘best’ team-mate by Cristiano Ronaldo and ‘toughest opponent’ by Zinedine Zidane, and the iconic trio’s praise shows just how good he was.
11
Luka Modric
Few would have predicted that Luka Modric would become one of the best midfielders when he signed for Tottenham in 2008.
However, the Croatian icon played in the Premier League and was later a regular for Real Madrid for 13 years, winning the Ballon d’Or in 2018. A six-time Champions League winner, Modric’s passing range and ability to dictate any match sets him apart from the rest.
