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Midfielders are the players who run the game of football. They are crucial in setting up the style of play and controlling the flow of the game.
These players are the link between attack and defence often playing defence-splitting passes and breaking up opposition play as and when required. This season, the top leagues around the world have witnessed many amazing midfielders go about their business and pull the strings for their respective sides.
All the best teams in the world have that one player in the centre of the park capable of making a difference with a moment of magic. We take a look at the 10 best midfielders of this season.
#10 Arturo Vidal (Bayern Munich)
One of the most consistent midfielders in the last few seasons, Bayern Munich's Arturo Vidal is known for his warrior-like performances in the heart of the midfield for both his club and country.
Supremely skilled and not afraid of going into tackles, Vidal is one of the most complete midfielders in the game and is capable of playing as a defensive midfielder, a central midfielder or even as an attacking midfielder.
The Chilean superstar has been brilliant this season as well for Bayern Munich. Having already made 34 appearances for the Bavarian giants (in all competitions), Vidal adds a powerful presence and a different dimension to the well oiled Bayern machine.
With crucial matches in the Champions League coming up for Bayern Munich, Vidal will be hoping to continue his good form and inspire the German giants to their 6th European championship.
#9 Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
Real Madrid is a team full of superstars, but their most important player arguably is their Croatian midfield maestro, Luka Modric. In tight matches and against well-organised defences, it is often the intelligence of Modric's passing which helps Madrid get an upper hand in the game
The Croatian midfielder was arguably the best midfielder in the world last season, but this season, like his team, the 32-year-old's form has tailed away a bit. Still one of Madrid's best players, Los Blancos will really struggle to replace a player of Modric's calibre in the future.
The Croatian's ability to spray the ball around and dribble past opponents with equal ease make him a valuable asset. With Real Madrid still alive in the Champions League, Modric will be hoping to end the season with another European title.
#8 Andres Iniesta (Barcelona)
One of the true legends of the game, Andres Iniesta, even at 33 is one of the best midfielders on the planet. After having a relatively poor 2016/17 season by his own high standards, the Spaniard has been like a man reborn under Ernesto Valverde this season and he will be keen on helping Barcelona achieve their lofty targets.
Blessed with excellent vision, passing ability and supreme dribbling skills, Iniesta has often been the silent architect of Barcelona's immense success being their most impressive player on many occasions.
Also, Iniesta has a knack of putting up his best performances in the biggest stages. The only player to be the man of the match in both the World Cup and Champions League final, Iniesta has recently signed a 'lifetime contract' with Barcelona and although Coutinho was signed in January as a long-term replacement, the Spanish superstar still has a few good matches left in him.
#7 James Rodriguez (Bayern Munich)
On loan from Real Madrid this season, James Rodriguez has started to show the form which made him a household name in 2014. Having seen his opportunities reduce at Real Madrid last season under Zidane, James has cemented his place as one of Bayern Munich's most important creative influences this season.
The Colombian superstar started the season slowly, but he soon adjusted to life in Bundesliga and started creating numerous chances for his team-mates. Having scored 4 goals and provided 8 assists so far for Bayern Munich, manager Jupp Heynckes is expecting even more from his playmaker.
Speaking in a recent press conference, he said:
“In his current form and how he has integrated himself, James is a God-send for Bayern Munich, At Real Madrid he wasn’t getting the game time that a player of his calibre deserves. You get the feeling that he is happy in Munich because it’s not easy when someone comes into a new country, culture, language and way of life.
“He is playing well, but he can play better. I have told him personally how I think he can improve.”
#6 Miralem Pjanic (Juventus)
Bought by Juventus as a replacement for Paul Pogba, 27-year-old Miralem Pjanic has quickly settled into his role as the chief playmaker in this very impressive Juventus side. Gifted with amazing technical ability, playmaking skills and tactical versatility, Pjanic is also exceptional at taking free-kicks.
One of Juventus' midfield mainstays, Pjanic always goes about his work with the minimum of fuss and he always seems to pick the right passes. This season as well, the Bosnian international has been at his dependable best having scored 4 goals and assisted a further 7 in 24 Serie A appearances.
With Juventus looking like favourites to win the Serie A title once again, Pjanic will be hoping that he continues his good form and helps the Old Lady win both the Scudetto and the elusive Champions League trophy at the end of the season.
#5 Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool/Barcelona)
Barcelona paid Liverpool ridiculous amounts of money to sign Philippe Coutinho in January and if the initial few performances are anything to go by, he might well be worth the reported £142 million fee. The Brazilian playmaker has been in fine form this season and for his excellent performances with Liverpool in the first half of this season, he is ranked 5th on this list.
Capable of gliding past opponents and playing decisive through balls, the Brazilian playmaker has scored an impressive 15 goals and further assisted 8 more this season. Blessed with excellent dribbling ability and a thunderous right foot shot, Coutinho is seen as the long-term heir to Andres Iniesta at the Camp Nou.
After starting slowly at Barcelona, Coutinho in the recent weeks has linked up excellently with the likes of Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi and it will be interesting to see what kind of an impact the 25-year-old will have at Barcelona next season.
#4 Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Lazio)
Having joined Lazio in 2015, 23-year-old Milinkovic-Savic has quickly grown to become one of the best young midfielders in world football at the moment. The Serbian international is blessed with an imposing physique and that coupled with his excellent dribbling skills has seen him being linked to a number of top clubs around Europe like Manchester United and Real Madrid.
Capable of playing as a central midfielder or as an attacking midfielder, Milinkovic-Savic is capable of scoring goals, creating chances, assisting, and winning the ball back for his team. In fact, his agent Mateja Kezman speaking to Mozzart Sport (via Calciomercato) even said that his client is better than Paul Pogba at the moment.
“I think that now Milinkovic-Savic has some different qualities that are better than Pogba. n these past six months he has made enormous progress and has the possibility to become the best in the world in my opinion.
"He has a physical presence beyond his years and there is no player in the world at his age who can compete with him.
“He reminds me of Zinedine Zidane sometimes and there’s certain things he does that you cannot see on the television. For me he can become better than Arjen Robben and Frank Lampard and will one day contest the Ballon d’Or.”
Milinkovic-Savic is poised to become one of the best midfielders of this generation.
#3 David Silva (Manchester City)
Manchester City have played some beautiful and elegant football this season and perhaps the person who most epitomises the City style of play is 32-year-old Spanish midfielder, David Silva.
The former Valencia man has been simply superb this season, dictating play with his intelligent and incisive passing. In just 24 appearances in the Premier League, Silva has already got 9 assists and scored 8 goals making him one of the most productive players in this free-flowing City side.
One of the best passers in the game at the moment, Silva has been like a man reborn under Pep Guardiola this season. Capable of unlocking defences with a single through-ball and blessed with excellent dribbling ability, Silva will be hoping to end the season on a strong note and win multiple honours with City at the end of the season.
#2 Sergio Busquets (Barcelona)
The all-conquering Barcelona side have a forward line which is the envy of the whole world. However, the player who is most vital for Barcelona’s unique system to work is Sergio Busquets.
The Spaniard often does the dirty work in the middle of the park without which Barcelona cannot play the beautiful football they are renowned for. Busquets is known for the pivotal midfield-anchor role that he plays for Barcelona and his good form is one of the main reasons for the Catalan giants' resurgence this season.
While the likes of Messi, Suarez and Iniesta always run away with the plaudits, Busquets is perhaps the most important player of this team. Quite simply put, when Busquets plays well, Barcelona plays well.
One of the most intelligent players to ever play the game, Busquets will be looking to continue his good form until the end of the season.
#1 Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
Undoubtedly the jewel in the Manchester City crown, Kevin De Bruyne has been one of the key reasons for Manchester City's dominance this season. A complete midfielder, the Belgian maestro has arguably taken his game to the next level under Pep Guardiola.
The 26-year-old Belgian playmaker along with Mohamed Salah is already the favourite to win the PFA Player of the Year award and it is easy to see why. Having scored 7 and assisted another 14 more goals, De Bruyne has dovetailed excellently with the likes of Sterling, Sane and Aguero and his intelligent and incisive passing has often broken through stubborn defences.
With a blockbuster Champions League clash against Liverpool coming up, De Bruyne will be hoping to continue his good form. If he continues playing like the way he is playing now, the Belgian might well end up making the top 10 of the Ballon d'Or rankings this year.
Honourable mentions - Marco Verratti, Christian Eriksen, Jorginho and Saul Niguez
