The 10 best defensive midfielders in the world right now | OneFootball

There was once a time when midfielders were required to do it all. Now, however, sides are seeking specialists and defensive midfield is an integral area of any team.

From the enforcers to the artists, the water-carriers to the registas, we’ve sifted through the best in the business.

Here are our top 10 defensive midfielders in the world right now.

10. Moises Caicedo – Chelsea

After an underwhelming start to his Chelsea career, Moises Caicedo has started to show signs of being the player the Blues were prepared to break the British transfer record for. The Ecuadorian is an elite ball-winner, tenacious tackler and fast becoming a leader in an inexperienced Chelsea outfit.

9. Sandro Tonali – Newcastle United

Sandro Tonali’s return from a betting ban has helped transform Newcastle’s midfield into one of the Premier League’s finest. In the Italian, Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes, the Magpies have an engine room capable of overpowering teams with ease. That trio were the driving force of the club’s Carabao Cup success, with Tonali providing the base for the Brazilians on either side of him to flourish.

He’s quick, strong and technically superb – perhaps the perfect recipe for a midfield anchorman.

8. Eduardo Camavinga – Real Madrid

Sometimes it’s easy to forget that Eduardo Camavinga is just 22 years old. The Frenchman burst onto the scene at Rennes before moving to Madrid as a teenager, where he’s picked up a pair of La Liga titles and two Champions League winner’s medals.

Whether in midfield or at full-back, he’s stuck to his task while delivering the highest standard of performance. His combination of energy and tactical intelligence is well appreciated at the Bernabeu.

7. Hakan Calhanoglu – Inter Milan

Hakan Calhanoglu’s metamorphosis into a midfield metronome was not always an obvious one. The talented Turkey international began life in the Bundesliga in an advanced role, impressed after moving to AC Milan, before a cross-capital transfer brought out the best in him.

At Inter, he’s emerged as one of the league’s best, using his sublime technical ability to pull the strings from the base of midfield for the Italian champions. Last season, he was deservedly named Serie A’s best midfielder for his role in the Nerazzurri’s Scudetto success.

6. Joao Neves – Paris Saint-Germain

Joao Neves arrived in the door at Paris Saint-Germain last summer and the 20-year-old is the definition of instant it.

A new country and new challenge has been no issue for the highly-rated youngster, who has injected another element of energy into a PSG side brimming with potential. He’s scored twice and provided eight assists in Ligue 1 while helping the French champions send a statement with a convincing Champions League elimination of Liverpool.

His short stature hides a deceptive strength with Neves a bundle of ball-winning brilliance and on-the-ball elegance.

5. Martin Zubimendi – Real Sociedad

There’s good reason that almost all of Europe’s top clubs are chasing Martin Zubimendi.

Your archetypal Spanish midfielder, he works wonderfully in the shadow of more attacking teammates to set the tempo and orchestrate games. Zubimendi side-steps pressure with ease and ensures his side gets on the front foot with an outstanding range of passing.

A release clause of €60m is good value. Real Sociedad are are resigned to losing him.

4. Ryan Gravenberch – Liverpool

Who saw this coming? After an underwhelming first season at Liverpool followed a disappointing short spell at Bayern Munich, there were fears Ryan Gravenberch would not fulfil his potential.

Liverpool’s failure to sign a number six last summer was the sliding doors moment Gravenberch’s career needed. Reinvented under Arne Slot, he’s been a crucial cog in Liverpool’s charge towards the Premier League title. So good has the 22-year-old been, Dutch great Ruud Gullit named him ‘the revelation of the season’.

High praise, indeed.

3. Aurelien Tchouameni – Real Madrid

Last year’s Ballon d’Or might have changed the narrative but it’s often true that defensive midfielders often do their best work unnoticed.

Aurelien Tchouameni certainly never gets the credit of his attacking companions at Real Madrid but sets the stage for the Spanish side’s stars to shine. He mops up danger, rarely gives the ball away, and deputises at centre-back if and when needed. A terrific footballer.

2. Joshua Kimmich – Bayern Munich

Joshua Kimmich has been consistently great for almost a decade. The German general is the beating heart of Bayern Munich, who after a dangerous dalliance with his contract tied up the influential midfielder earlier this month.

Kimmich controls games, creates chances, and throughout his career has been world-class in multiple positions. It’s the number six where he most shines. Combative without being commanding defensively, it’s his ability on the ball that shines through. So often the conduit of his team’s finest performances.

1. Rodri – Manchester City

Rodri’s not kicked a ball since September – and don’t we know about it.

Manchester City’s crumble this season has been in large part due to the absence of the Spaniard. He’s the centre-piece of Pep Guardiola’s team, perhaps the one cog in the Mancunian’s winning machine that they could not afford to fault.

He’s press-resistance, an incredible passer off either foot, scores big goals, and makes everyone around him a better player. Those traits made him a fitting winner of the 2024 Ballon d’Or.

Read our full list of positional top 10s now

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