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Football, at the end of the day, is all about scoring goals. But to say that strikers, whose primary duty is to score goals, are the most important players in a team would be quite reductive. Players who carve out openings and create chances for the forwards are just as important.
In fact, creative players are often the difference makers. Number 10s or attacking midfielders roam the attacking realms looking to find their teammates in spaces. They also need to have the technical ability to back their vision. At the highest level of the game, it is not an easy job by any stretch of the imagination.
Defenders come at you really fast and you need to be quick with both your thinking and your feet. Without further ado, let's take a look at five of the best attacking midfielders in the world right now.
(Note: Kevin De Bruyne has not been included in the list as he hasn't featured extensively just yet in the 2021-22 season).
#5 Phil Foden (Manchester City)
21-year-old Phil Foden is starting to deliver on the big stage and has been in spectacular form this term. Pep Guardiola has a penchant for improving midfielders and he seems to be working his magic with this Manchester City academy product.
Foden is a technically proficient midfielder and it is nearly impossible to shake him off the ball. His deft touches and quick give-and-gos are starting to become a vital part of City's game in the final third.
The left-footed attacking midfielder also has an eye for goal. He has scored four goals and provided four assists in 10 appearances across all competitions for Manchester City so far this term.
It looks like this is going to be the season where Foden will truly announce his arrival on the big stage and establish himself as a big name in the game.
#4 Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)
Bayer Leverkusen teenager Florian Wirtz has been nothing short of a revelation in the 2021-22 season. The 18-year-old already showcases incredible maturity, intelligence and technical finesse and has been one of the best players in the Bundesliga this term.
He is also versatile and though he is primarily an attacking midfielder, he can slot in on either wing as well. Wirtz excels in tight spaces and has shown that he can pull the strings in the final third for his side with aplomb.
The German international is already an expert at applying the right amount of weight and pace on his through balls. He has scored six goals and provided six assists in 12 appearances across all competitions for the Bundesliga outfit so far this campaign.
#3 Dimitri Payet (Olympique Marseille)
Dimitri Payet might be 34-years-old but he continues to be an elite footballer. The Frenchman has been in fine form for Marseille this season and is one of the most in-form players in the world at the moment.
Payet is tidy in possession and is an excellent dribbler who can navigate tight spaces with elan. He also showcases unreal vision in and around the final third and is also great at finding the back of the net.
He has scored five goals and provided four assists in 10 appearances across all competitions for the Ligue 1 outfit so far this term.
#2 Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
Manchester United are in a state of disarray right now. They have looked vulnerable in recent weeks but Bruno Fernandes continues to deliver for the Red Devils on a consistent basis. The Portuguese international is a great fit for the blink-and-you-will-miss nature of the Premier League.
He is all about quick thinking and execution. Fernandes' vision and technical capabilities are world-class. The 27-year-old is an adventurous player who tries a lot of risky passes in every game. We've come to realize that it's just how he plays and it can be as frustrating as it can be rewarding.
The Manchester United attacking midfielder also has an eye for goal. He has scored some spectacular goals this term and has also pulled off some sensational passes. He has four goals and six assists to his name in 13 appearances across all competitions so far this term.
He has played the most number of key passes (34) in Europe's top 5 leagues. Fernandes has also created the most number of chances from open play (28) in the Premier League this term.
#1 Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich)
Thomas Muller calls himself 'Raumdeuter' or 'space interpreter' and that is quite an accurate description of his style of play. The Bayern Munich man has been one of the most consistent footballers on the planet over the last decade. He continues to be world-class at the age of 32.
Few footballers are more intelligent than Muller and he possesses an incredible understanding of the game. The German international's movements in the attacking realms ought to be studied by aspiring forwards and midfielders.
He might not be the most elegant footballer on the planet but he is most definitely one of the most effective ones. Muller strikes up an excellent understanding with his teammates and is always looking to pick them out in space.
If he is not doing that, he is looking to drag defenders away so that his forwards have enough space to work with. Muller has been in fine form so far this term and has scored five goals and provided eight assists in 15 appearances across all competitions for Bayern Munich.
